Front-end estimation is a technique where you estimate the difference by looking at the leading digits of the numbers involved. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use front-end estimation to estimate the difference between 987.12 and 342.5:
1. Consider the leading digits of each number. Ignore the decimals for now:
- For 987.12, the leading digit is 9 (hundreds place).
- For 342.5, the leading digit is 3 (hundreds place).
2. Subtract the leading digits:
- [tex]\(9 - 3 = 6\)[/tex]
3. Since we are working in the hundreds place, the result from the subtraction should be in hundreds as well:
- [tex]\(6 \times 100 = 600\)[/tex]
Therefore, the estimated difference using front-end estimation is 600. Hence, the answer is 600
