About, Roughly, Just Over
Describe quantities clearly using “about,” “approximately,” “roughly,” “just under,” and “just over,” from everyday estimates to more careful summaries.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Scegli la risposta corretta.
What does Lena's answer tell us about the number of guests?
Sam: How many guests are coming?
Lena: About 20.- There will be at least 20 guests.
- The number will be close to 20, but not necessarily exactly 20.
- There will be exactly 20 guests.
Does Lena give a precise count or an estimate?
Show solution
- The number will be close to 20, but not necessarily exactly 20.
“About” is useful when an exact count is unknown or unnecessary.
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2. Completa lo spazio vuoto.
The measured distance is 11.8 miles; the summary uses a rounded figure.
The route is ___ 12 miles long.
- approximately
- approximation
- approximate
The missing word describes how exact the number is.
Show solution
The route is approximately 12 miles long.
Use the adverb “approximately” before a quantity. The adjective “approximate” describes a noun, as in “an approximate distance.”
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3. Completa lo spazio vuoto.
The final count was 298 tickets. The summary rounds this to the nearest hundred.
We sold ___ 300 tickets.
- at least
- exactly
- roughly
The rounded figure is slightly higher than the actual count.
Show solution
We sold roughly 300 tickets.
A round number makes a summary easier to read, while “roughly” signals that it is not the exact figure.
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4. Completa lo spazio vuoto.
The receipt shows a total of $19.80.
The groceries cost ___ $20.
- just over
- just under
- exactly
Compare the receipt total with $20.
Show solution
The groceries cost just under $20.
“Under” places the amount below the reference number, while “just” shows that the difference is small.
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5. Scegli la risposta corretta.
Which recorded duration fits the speaker's description?
The meeting lasted just over an hour.
- 62 minutes
- 58 minutes
- 95 minutes
The duration must be longer than an hour, but only by a little.
Show solution
- 62 minutes
In quantity expressions, “just” means “only slightly.” It does not mean “recently,” as it can in other contexts.
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6. Completa lo spazio vuoto.
Of 300 people surveyed, 98 cycle to work. The summary uses the closest of these familiar fractions.
Roughly ___ of those surveyed cycle to work.
- one-half
- two-thirds
- one-third
Compare 98 with the result of dividing 300 into three equal groups.
Show solution
Roughly one-third of those surveyed cycle to work.
One-third of 300 is 100. Simple fractions can make survey results easier to picture than exact percentages.
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7. Scegli la risposta corretta.
Which pair of exact counts could both reasonably fit this summary?
Approximately 400 people attended the event.
- 395 people or 405 people
- 395 people, but not 405 people
- 405 people, but not 395 people
Does “approximately” specify which side of 400 the count falls on?
Show solution
- 395 people or 405 people
Unlike “under” or “over,” “approximately” does not indicate a direction: the actual number may be slightly lower or higher.
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8. Completa lo spazio vuoto.
A delivery took one hour and 58 minutes.
The package arrived just under ___ after pickup.
- one hour
- half an hour
- two hours
Express the possible reference times in minutes.
Show solution
The package arrived just under two hours after pickup.
Convert durations to the same unit before comparing them. Two hours is 120 minutes, only two minutes longer than the delivery took.
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9. Scegli la risposta corretta.
How can the estimated total be reported without making it sound exact?
Lunch costs approximately $12 per person. There are 10 people in the group.
- Exactly $120
- Approximately $120
- At least $120
Consider whether multiplying an estimate makes it exact.
Show solution
- Approximately $120
A calculation based on an estimated price still produces an estimate. “At least” would add a lower limit that was not given.
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10. Scegli la risposta corretta.
What does “roughly” suggest about this time range?
The hike takes roughly two to three hours.
- The range is an approximate guide, not a pair of strict limits.
- Three hours is a guaranteed maximum.
- The hike always takes exactly two and a half hours.
Here, “roughly” applies to the whole range.
Show solution
- The range is an approximate guide, not a pair of strict limits.
An approximate range allows some variation around its endpoints; it does not promise an exact minimum or maximum.
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11. Scegli la risposta corretta.
What does the estimate mean for the shuttle's seating?
The shuttle has exactly 20 passenger seats.
Organizer: We expect roughly 20 passengers.- One trip will definitely be enough.
- Two trips will definitely be necessary.
- The estimate does not guarantee that one trip will be enough.
A number close to 20 could still exceed the available seats.
Show solution
- The estimate does not guarantee that one trip will be enough.
“Roughly” does not set a maximum. A confirmed passenger count is needed to guarantee that everyone will fit.
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12. Scegli la risposta corretta.
The club has 60 members. Which summary describes the change relative to half of the membership?
Last month, 29 members attended. This month, 31 members attended.
- Attendance rose from just under half to exactly half.
- Attendance rose from just under half to just over half.
- Attendance fell from just over half to just under half.
Find half of 60, then compare both attendance figures with it.
Show solution
- Attendance rose from just under half to just over half.
Because the membership total stays the same, half remains a consistent reference point: 30 members. The summary highlights the move across that point.