Approximate for Dummies

Approximate is a word that we use to talk about things that are close, but not exact. It's like when you're trying to hit a target with a dart, and you get really close to the center, but not right in the bullseye. That's an approximation. It's an estimate or a guess that's really close to the actual answer, but not exactly the same.

Let me give you an example. Imagine you're baking cookies, and the recipe says to add 1 cup of sugar. But you can't find your measuring cup, so you have to guess how much sugar to add. You might pour a little bit less or a little bit more than 1 cup, but if your cookies still turn out sweet and delicious, then your guess was an approximation. It wasn't the exact amount of sugar, but it was close enough to get the job done.

Another way to think about approximate is to think about how we use it when talking about time. Let's say you're meeting a friend at the park, and they ask what time you'll get there. If you say, "I'll be there around 3 o'clock," you're giving them an approximate time. You're not saying you will arrive exactly at 3 o'clock, but rather you're letting them know you'll be there at a time close to 3 o'clock.

So, in a nutshell, approximate means something that's close to the real thing but not exact. It's an estimate or a guess that's really close, but not perfect. It's like when you throw a dart and get close to the bullseye, or when you guess the amount of sugar to put in your cookies. It's not exact, but it's close enough to get the job done.