Application of Number
Level 2
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Reading Scales - Tutorial 1
Scales are used in everyday life on things like weighing machines (in bathrooms, kitchens and shops), thermometers, measuring equipment in Science and Technology, garages (tyre pressures, measuring lengths), any company that makes things (measuring, scale drawings) and many more.
We all come into contact with scales at some point.
These short tutorials will give you experience of reading some different scales, with a short interactive assessment at the end of each one.
| Central Heating Thermostat |
The picture shows a Central Heating Thermostat. As you can see, the large markers measure every 10, the medium markers measure every 5 and the small markers measure units.
The setting A shows 53°F to the nearest unit.
To the nearest 10 it measures 50°F because it nearer 50°F than 60°F.
To the nearest 5, A measures 55°F because it is closer to 55°F than 50°F.
The table below shows the results for the other settings. Study this table and make sure that you understand how the readings are done.
| Setting | To Nearest Unit | To Nearest 5 | To Nearest 10 |
| A | 53 | 55 | 50 |
| B | 57 | 60 | 60 |
| C | 61 | 60 | 60 |
| D | 66 | 65 | 70 |
The D setting is slightly different. Remember when you are rounding, if a number is on a '5' or half way, then you move up.
E.g.
| Number | Rounded |
| 15 14 |
is 20 to nearest 10 is 10 to nearest 10 |
| 75 74 |
is 80 to nearest 10 is 70 to nearest 10 |
| 1.5 1.4 |
is 2 to the nearest unit is 1 to the nearest unit |
So if the number ends in 5, then you move up to the next number.
To practise reading a Central Heating Thermostat try this assessment. Remember to check what the questions want you to round to. (Either units, 5s or 10s)
Then go on to the next tutorial.
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