10. Which of the following mental computations gives the closest estimate of the answer to the preceding problem?

Answer: A

Explanation:

Dividing 480 by 8 provides the closest estimate.

Dividing 480 by 8 yields the most accurate estimate when compared to the other options provided. This calculation aligns closely with the original problem's requirements.

A) Dividing 480 by 8

This option is the correct choice as it directly relates to the original problem's context. Dividing 480 by 8 results in 60, which is a precise operation that accurately estimates the required result, making it the closest computation for the given problem.

B) Dividing 480 by 10

While dividing 480 by 10 results in 48, this estimate is less accurate than option A. The division by 10 gives a rounded figure that does not reflect the original numbers’ relationship as closely as dividing by 8 does.

C) Dividing 490 by 7

Dividing 490 by 7 gives a result of 70, which is farther from the original problem's context than option A. This computation does not align with the numbers presented in the original problem, making it an incorrect choice for providing an accurate estimate.

D) Dividing 490 by 10

This option results in 49, which is also an inaccurate estimate compared to the original problem. Like option B, this division yields a rounded number that strays from the necessary computation, thus making it less relevant.

Conclusion

Dividing 480 by 8 is definitively the best estimate as it directly correlates with the calculations needed in the original problem. Other options either yield numbers that are too far off or do not utilize the numbers presented effectively, confirming that A is the only choice that meets the estimation requirements accurately.