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Problem of the Week
Problem B
Destination: Estimation

  1. Charley wants to estimate the total number of birds in a picture.

    Picture 1

    A rectangular picture of a flock of birds. The birds are spread evenly throughout the picture.

    Her strategy is to divide the picture into eight smaller rectangles of equal area, count the number of birds in one of the smaller rectangles, and then multiply this number by \(8.\) Using this strategy, estimate the number of birds in Picture 1.

  2. Why might Charley’s strategy not give a reliable estimate for the number of birds in Picture 2?

    Picture 2

    A rectangular picture of a flock of birds. There are many more birds on the right half of the picture than on the left half. The birds on the left half are spread evenly throughout that half and the birds on the right half are spread evenly throughout that half.

    Determine a strategy that will give a more reliable estimate, then use your strategy to estimate the number of birds in the picture.

  3. Determine a strategy to estimate the total number of shipping containers on the boat in the picture, then use your strategy to get an estimate. How reliable do you think your estimate is? Explain.

    A picture of a boat carrying a large number of shipping containers. The containers are stacked into piles and the piles are arranged into rows. The piles along the back of the boat and along the left side of the boat are visible.

Themes: Geometry & Measurement, Number Sense