Reading scales with marked divisions

Temperature is measured on a continuous scale, so the reading is not always just on a marked division. In this case you can give the reading of the nearest number on the scale.
Look at these two thermometers. What are they reading?

The reading for A could be given as about 7ºC and for B as about 10ºC.
Now look at this thermometer.

Here the temperature is halfway between -6ºC and -4ºC. Because the temperature is half way between -6ºC and -4ºC, we could estimate the temperature as -5ºC.

Take a look at the 'Rounding and estimating' module in our whole numbers section for more ways to round up and down. You can find the module at the following address:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/wholenumbers/whatarenumbers/rounding/