IES: Lesson - Rounding in Environmental Science š
ā³ Estimated Reading Time: 5 - 7 minutes
In this lesson, you will learn how to round in a way that makes sense for real-life scenarios.
Rounding In Environmental Science
When you learned rounding rules as a child, you probably learned the basics: "anything 5 and over rounds up, and anything under 5 rounds down." However, in environmental science, we are working with real numbers that have real-life consequences, so we need to understand the practicalities of each scenario before rounding.
Rounding correctly ensures that the results we obtain are both meaningful and in alignment with the specific requirements of our environmental studies.
One important aspect of correct rounding involves understanding when to round up or down, based on the nature of the question and the rules of significant figures. Let's discuss each scenario!
When to Round DOWN
While the standard rules of rounding are important, when working with real-life scenarios and data, there may be some times where rounding down, against the typical rounding conventions, is necessary for the following reasons, check out the presentation below for more.
By occasionally rounding down, we prioritize environmental conservation, safety, and the long-term health of ecosystems and communities, even when it deviates from standard rounding conventions. This approach ensures that our environmental research is not only scientifically sound but also ethically responsible.
If you are asked to determine the MAXIMUM of something, and you calculate a number with decimals, round down, because you can't have a partial amount of an animal or plant or other organism.
When to Round UP
While rounding down is often crucial, there are specific instances in environmental research where rounding up is necessary, even if it deviates from standard rounding rules.
In the presentation below take the time to read and click through to view some times when it is appropriate to round up in environmental science, which one do you think you will use the most often?
If you are asked to determine the MINIMUM of something, and you calculate a number with decimals, round up because you can't have a partial amount of an animal or plant or other organism.
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