What is compatible numbers and how do you find compatible numbers?

http://www.mathgoodies.com/glossary/term.asp?term=compatible%20numbers

Often compatible numbers end in zero, making them easier to compute in your head.

Compatible numbers are numbers that are easy to work with mentally and can be used to estimate or approximate a calculation. They are often used to simplify mathematical operations, especially when dealing with large numbers or complex calculations.

To find compatible numbers, you need to identify numbers that are close to the given numbers and are easy to work with. Here are a few strategies to find compatible numbers:

1. Rounding: Round the given numbers to the nearest tens, hundreds, or thousands. For example, if you have 87 and 42 as given numbers, you can round them to 90 and 40, respectively.

2. Friendly Numbers: Choose numbers that are easy to work with mentally, such as multiples of 10 or numbers that end in zeros. For example, if you have 254 and 367, you can approximate them to 250 and 370.

3. Compatible Factors: Find numbers that share factors with the given numbers. For example, if you have 24 and 36, you can choose 12 as a compatible number since it is a factor of both 24 and 36.

Once you have identified compatible numbers, you can use them to perform estimates or simplifications in calculations. This can help you get a rough idea of the answer or make complex calculations more manageable.