Do you round down with matrices relating to people?

[Tragesty]

Simple question but I'm not sure - say a transition matrix reveals 415.6 customers will shop at X store next year, do I say 416 or 415 if rounding?

[Will T]

I'm assuming it would round to 416. But it would be interesting if this was an exception, although I can't imagine why it would be.

[lukaal340]

im 99% sure you round to the nearest number, even though you cant technically 'round up' a person. Even so, transition matrices are only an estimate so I think that maybe the reason. The only time you dont round to the nearest number is the number of periods in business maths, always round up there.

[Yendall]

When dealing with context questions you round appropriately, however in your workings do not round with each calculation. If you have to find two matrices and then add them, round afterward not before. If it's a simple calculation, don't round until end as well I believe.

[paulsterio]

It depends on the situation, most situations you would round down, there are situations where you have to round up though, I just can't think of any up the top of my head, but I do know of some.

[julie9300]

I think you'd round it to 416. I know in some cases where you'd round down (haven't seen it in further but definitely in methods) such as when you're dealing with time.

[julie9300]

somewhat related question, but when your representing those sort of values as a matrix (rather than explicitly stating the value of something), would you round off at all? I remember doing a vcaa question where they rounded it off, but then another case where they didn't (despite the fact that logically only discrete values were possible)

[Yendall]

somewhat related question, but when your representing those sort of values as a matrix (rather than explicitly stating the value of something), would you round off at all? I remember doing a vcaa question where they rounded it off, but then another case where they didn't (despite the fact that logically only discrete values were possible)

Yeah this confuses me as well. I've heard that you have to give calculations as a matrix in exact values. I think VCAA give you full marks if the matrix is exact, although say you were dealing with money values for example, and it was to the nearest cent, you would round 145.6798 to $145.68. If you're asked to give an answer as a matrix I would give it as exact, and then if it asks you to interpret you round.

[voxxi]

If you are given multiple answers such as a 3x1 then you round to the nearest whole, because if you have done it right it will add to the total. Good luck tomorrow all

[StumbleBum]

somewhat related question, but when your representing those sort of values as a matrix (rather than explicitly stating the value of something), would you round off at all? I remember doing a vcaa question where they rounded it off, but then another case where they didn't (despite the fact that logically only discrete values were possible)

Yeah this confuses me as well. I've heard that you have to give calculations as a matrix in exact values. I think VCAA give you full marks if the matrix is exact, although say you were dealing with money values for example, and it was to the nearest cent, you would round 145.6798 to $145.68. If you're asked to give an answer as a matrix I would give it as exact, and then if it asks you to interpret you round.

I thought i'd clarify this, if you are asked to state is as a matrix you provide the full un-rounded answer (unless otherwise stated) the only time when you would round (And this was an answer in a VCAA exam, cant remember which one) is when it is something like 699.99999 and the other answer are like 0.1x10^-10, because it would be obvious that they are close enough not to be stated as huge decimals. And you got it wrong if you stated it in full scientific notation or decimals.