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Estimate 26 × 604
A useful approach is to round 26 to 25 and 604 to 600. Both numbers stay close to the originals, and the multiplication becomes easy.
26 × 604 ≈ 25 × 600 = 15,000
Worked example
The exact product is 15,704. An estimate of 15,000 is close enough to show the correct size of the answer and is the best choice among common multiple-choice options.
Why 15,000 is better than nearby choices
An estimate such as 12,000 is too low and 18,000 or 20,000 are too high. Rounding to friendly values gives a result that stays near the exact product.
Common mistakes
- Multiplying 26 by 60 instead of 600.
- Dropping or adding a zero when estimating.
- Choosing the closest-looking option without doing the rounding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best estimate of 26 × 604?
About 15,000.
What is the exact product?
26 × 604 = 15,704.
Why round 26 to 25?
Because 25 × 600 is especially easy to calculate mentally and remains close to the original factors.