Although approximation is most often applied to numbers, it is also frequently applied to such things as mathematical functions, shapes, and physical laws. In science, approximation can refer to using a simpler process or model when the correct model is difficult to use.
These numbers are only approximations [= estimates] but they give us some idea of what we can afford. This isn't an exact figure but I think it's a good/rough approximation of what the land is worth. The color of the paint isn't the exact same color as the vase, but it's a close approximation.
ap•prox•i•ma•tion (əˌprɒk səˈmeɪ ʃən) n. 1. an inexact computation or result that still falls within the required limits of accuracy. 2. the quality or state of being near or close: an approximation to the facts. 3. the act of drawing together.
An approximation is a number, calculation, or position that is close to a correct number, time, or position, but is not exact. Clearly that's an approximation, but my guess is there'll be a reasonable balance.
An approximation means that the result is closer to the actual value but not equal. An approximation can be made by either rounding off to the nearest 10 or 100 or rounding them to the nearest decimal place.
Definition of approximation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. an estimate of a number or an amount that is almost correct, but not exact. That's just an approximation, you understand. An approximation of the numbers expected to attend would be 350. This is the nearest approximation of cost that they can give us.
Approximation, a cornerstone of both theoretical and applied mathematics, is the process of finding a value or function that is acceptably close to the true value, especially when obtaining the exact value is difficult or impossible.
ap•prox•i•ma•tion (əˌprɒk səˈmeɪ ʃən) n. 1. an inexact computation or result that still falls within the required limits of accuracy. 2. the quality or state of being near or close: an approximation to the facts. 3. the act of drawing together.