Mastering the Art of Rounding Numbers | A Comprehensive Guide

When asked to round a place, only look at the digit next to the place.

When rounding a number to a specific place value, we do not only look at the digit next to the place

When rounding a number to a specific place value, we do not only look at the digit next to the place. We actually consider the digit next to the place as well as all the digits to its right.

To round a number, we follow a general rule: if the digit to the right of the desired place value is 5 or greater, we round up (increase the desired digit by 1). If the digit is 4 or less, we round down (keep the desired digit as it is).

Here’s an example to illustrate the process:

Let’s say we want to round the number 3.876 to the nearest tenth. The digit in the tenths place is 8, and we need to look at the digit to the right of it, which is 7. Since 7 is greater than 5, we round up the digit in the tenths place. Therefore, 3.876 rounded to the nearest tenth is 3.9.

Note that if the digit to the right of the desired place is 5, we round up if the preceding digit is odd, and round down if the preceding digit is even. For instance, if we were rounding the number 3.725 to the nearest hundredth, the digit to the right of the hundredths place is 5. Since the preceding digit 2 is even, we round down. Consequently, 3.725 rounded to the nearest hundredth is 3.72.

Remember to consider all the digits to the right of the desired place when rounding, as they play a crucial role in determining whether we round up or round down.

More Answers: