'Plausible Estimation' Estimates for the USA Tasks - Set #4 Malcolm Swan Mathematics Education University of Nottingham Malcolm.Swan@nottingham.ac.uk Jim Ridgway School of Education University of Durham Jim.Ridgway@durham.ac.uk The aim of this assessment is to provide the opportunity for you to: · develop a chain of reasoning that will enable you to make reasonable estimates of facts about the USA from population data · communicate the assumptions upon which your estimate is based. ____________________________________________________ Try to estimate reasonable answers to each of the following questions. Describe carefully at each stage any assumptions you make. Show, step by step how you arrive at your estimate. Each estimate should use the following fact: The population of the USA is approximately 270 million. 1. Babies How many babies are born in the USA in each minute? Assumptions · The population of the USA is approximately 270 million. Reasoning 2. Teachers How many K-8 Elementary School teachers are there in the USA? Assumptions · The population of the USA is approximately 270 million. Reasoning 3. Newspapers How much is spent on newspapers in the USA each year? Assumptions · The population of the USA is approximately 270 million. Reasoning 4. Cars How many cars are bought each year in the USA? Assumptions · The population of the USA is approximately 270 million. Reasoning 5. Dentists How many dentists are there in the USA? Assumptions · The population of the USA is approximately 270 million. Reasoning