Interpreting units and rounding

1. Keep all values in the same unit. 2. Carry extra digits through the working. 3. Check the instruction for rounding. 4. Round only at the end. 5. Write the unit clearly. 6. Recheck whether the answer is realistic.

Add units beside each given length on the sketch so the final answer can be written correctly.

A common wrong answer is to round at the first step or forget the unit altogether. Both reduce accuracy in the final answer.

Interpreting units and rounding means writing the correct unit in the final answer and rounding the numerical result suitably.

Interpreting units and rounding means writing the correct unit in the final answer and rounding the numerical result suitably. Use the same unit throughout one question, and round the final answer only according to the instruction. If a calculation gives 18.974 m, you may write 19.0 m when one decimal place is required, or 19 m when the nearest whole number is asked.

In trigonometry word problems, a correct calculation can still lose marks if the unit is missing or the answer is written with careless rounding. Heights are usually in metres or centimetres, distances in the same unit as the question, and angles in degrees. The final answer should match the context and the instructions. If the question asks for one decimal place or nearest integer, follow that exactly. Good presentation is part of exam accuracy. Use the same unit throughout one question, and round the final answer only according to the instruction. A height calculation gives 14.866 m. If the question asks for one decimal place, write 14.9 m. If it asks for the nearest metre, write 15 m. Write the final height, distance, or angle with proper units and correct rounding, often in the last line of the solution. A common wrong answer is to round at the first step or forget the unit altogether. Both reduce accuracy in the final answer.