Question

A suitcase weighs 12 kg to the nearest kilogram. Another suitcase weighs 17 kg to the nearest kilogram. Work out the smallest amount, in kilograms (kg), that the two suitcases could weigh in total.​

Answer 1

28 KG

Explanation:

To find the smallest possible weight, we need to consider the possible range of weights for each suitcase based on the rounding.

The 12 kg suitcase could actually weigh anywhere from 11.5 kg to 12.4 kg (since rounding to the nearest kg means it could be as low as 11.5 kg or as high as 12.4 kg, with 12 kg being the nearest whole number).

The 17 kg suitcase could actually weigh anywhere from 16.5 kg to 17.4 kg.

To get the smallest possible total weight, we want to add the lowest weights of each suitcase:

11.5 kg + 16.5 kg = 28 kg

Therefore, the smallest possible amount that the two suitcases could weigh in total is 28 kg.