QUESTION A

Estimation is to finding an approximate. Estimation may also employ mental

computation. There are four strategies for whole number computation estimation
describes by Reys (1986). The four strategies are:
i) Front-end strategy
The front –end strategy focuses on the left-most or highest place-value digits.
For example, for children using this strategy they would estimate the difference
between 542 and 238 by subtracting the front-end digits, 5 and 2, and estimate the
answer as 300.

5 4 2 - 2 3 8 = ( 5 – 2 ) = 300

ii) Rounding strategy

Children using this strategy would round 542 to 500 and 238 to 200 and estimate
the difference between the numbers as 300.

542 500
238 - 200
300

iii) Clustering Strategy

The clustering strategy is used when a set of numbers is close to each other in
value. For example , to find the sum of 170 + 390 + 330 , children would first
add 170 and 330 to get 500 , and then they can estimate sum of 500 + 390, so it’s
about 900.

1 7 0 + 390 + 330 =
a) 1 7 0 + 3 3 0 = 500
b) Then, estimate for 5 0 0 + 3 9 0 = it’s about 900
iv) Compatible number strategy
When using the compatible number strategy , children adjust the numbers so that
they are easier to work with. For example, to estimate the answer for 332 ÷ 3, they note
that 333 is close to 332 and is divisible by 3, and that would give an estimate answer of
111.

After gave the students some exercises, teacher find out, that there are different strategies
used by different students to making estimation involving addition and subtraction.
Front-end strategy is the method that always use by weak students to making
estimation in solving problem involving addition and subtraction. They used front-end
strategy because:
a. The strategy is suitable for the weak student.
b. They still not mastering to round off the number.
c. This strategy is easier to them to work with because the calculation not involving
the big value of number.

Example 1.
643 – 295 =
They only focus on the left-most or highest place-value digits. So to estimate the
answer, they only subtracting the front-end digit, 6 and 2, and estimate the answer
as 400.

6 4 3 - 2 9 5 = ( 6 – 2 ) = estimation answer is about 400

Example 2
412 + 280 =
They only focus on the left-most or highest place-value digits. So to estimate the
answer, they only add the front-end digit, 4 and 2, and estimate the answer as 600.

4 1 2 + 2 8 0 = ( 4 + 2 ) = estimation answer is about 600

However , it is different way use by the good students. 80 % of them , use rounding
strategy to making estimation in addition and subtraction. They used rounding strategy
because:
a. They are already mastering the skill in round off the number.
b. The rounding strategy of estimation is more close to the correct answer .
c. They not choose the front-end strategy because sometimes the answer of
estimation is too different from the correct answer.

1. Rounding Strategy The Correct Answer

a) 8 9 5 - 5 0 4 = 895
895 900 - 504
504 - 500 391
estimation 400

b) 2 4 3 + 3 8 3 =
243 200 241
+ 383
383 + 400
624
estimation 600

2. Front-end Strategy

a) 895–504 895
8–5 - 504
estimation answer= 300 391

b) 2 4 1 + 3 8 3 =
241
2 + 3
+ 383
estimation answer = 500 624