Rounding Numbers

Rounding numbers is the process of changing a number to a simpler, approximate value that's close to the original. Rounding is useful for making calculations easier and numbers easier to remember. It's also important for avoiding misleadingly precise numbers. 

Here are some examples of rounding numbers:

• Rounding to the nearest ten: 38 rounded to the nearest ten is 40 because 38 is closer to 40 than 30.

• Rounding to the nearest hundred: 3,978 rounded to the nearest hundred is 4,000. 

• Rounding decimals: Rounding to the nearest tenth makes the hundredths' place zero. 

Here are some tips for rounding numbers:

• To round to the nearest ten, look at the ones' place. 

• To round to the nearest hundred, look at the digit to the right of the hundreds place. 

• When the digit to the right of the rounding place is 5 or greater, add 1 to the rounding digit. 

• When the digit to the right of the rounding place is less than 5, leave the rounding digit alone. 

• Rounding down means leaving the number in the desired place value as is. 

Rounding is used in many real-life situations, such as grocery shopping, paying at restaurants, and shopping at the mall.

Rounding off a number means converting it to the closest desired place value. Once a number has been rounded off, the place value(s) to the right of the desired value will be zero. For example, if we wanted to round to the nearest tens' place, the ones' place would be zero. The same is true for rounding decimal values.