Here is the my problem: Pam used front-end estimation and adds 345, 311, 418 as 900+(50+10+20) to get the answer 980. Pat rounds the number and adds 350+200+400 to get 950. Who has the better answer? I say Pam because she is only 6 away from the actual answer of 974.

Answer 1

Obviously Pam has the better estimate. I round each to the nearest ten when estimating.

Answer 2

In Pam's problem, where did the 900 come from?

In Pat's problem, where did 200 come from?

Also -- doesn't 345 + 311 + 418 = 1074?

Or is there a typo in your original problem?

Answer 3

It is suppose to be 211 not 311. Sorry.