Rounding decimals is a fundamental mathematical concept used to simplify numbers while
keeping them close to their original value. Here are several examples illustrating different
scenarios of rounding decimals:
Example 1: Rounding to the Nearest Whole Number
Problem: Round 5.7 to the nearest whole number.
Solution:
1. Identify the digit to the right of the whole number place: This is 7.
2. Determine if this digit is 5 or greater: Since 7 is greater than or equal to 5, we round
up.
3. Add 1 to the whole number: 5 + 1 = 6. Therefore, 5.7 rounded to the nearest whole
number is 6.
Example 2: Rounding to One Decimal Place (Tenths)
Problem: Round 12.34 to one decimal place.
Solution:
1. Identify the digit in the tenths place: This is 3.
2. Look at the digit to its right (the hundredths place): This is 4.
3. Determine if this digit is 5 or greater: Since 4 is less than 5, we round down (keep the
tenths digit as it is). Therefore, 12.34 rounded to one decimal place is 12.3.
Example 3: Rounding to Two Decimal Places (Hundredths)
Problem: Round 0.876 to two decimal places.
Solution:
1. Identify the digit in the hundredths place: This is 7.
2. Look at the digit to its right (the thousandths place): This is 6.
3. Determine if this digit is 5 or greater: Since 6 is greater than or equal to 5, we round
up.
4. Add 1 to the hundredths digit: 7 + 1 = 8. Therefore, 0.876 rounded to two decimal
places is 0.88.
Example 4: Rounding with a 9 in the Rounding Position
Problem: Round 3.497 to two decimal places.
Solution:
1. Identify the digit in the hundredths place: This is 9.
2. Look at the digit to its right (the thousandths place): This is 7.
3. Determine if this digit is 5 or greater: Since 7 is greater than or equal to 5, we round
up.
4. Add 1 to the hundredths digit: 9 + 1 = 10. This means the 9 becomes 0, and we carry
over 1 to the tenths place.
5. Add 1 to the tenths digit: 4 + 1 = 5. Therefore, 3.497 rounded to two decimal places is
3.50.
Example 5: Rounding to a Specific Place Value (e.g., thousands)
Sometimes you might be asked to round to a place value that is not immediately after the
decimal point, but involves the whole number part.
Problem: Round 2,467.89 to the nearest hundred.
Solution:
1. Identify the digit in the hundreds place: This is 4.
2. Look at the digit to its right (the tens place): This is 6.
3. Determine if this digit is 5 or greater: Since 6 is greater than or equal to 5, we round
up.
4. Add 1 to the hundreds digit: 4 + 1 = 5.
5. Replace all digits to the right of the hundreds place with zeros: The tens and ones
digits become 0. The decimal part is dropped. Therefore, 2,467.89 rounded to the nearest
hundred is 2,500.
Key Rules for Rounding Decimals:
1. Identify the place value you are rounding to.
2. Look at the digit immediately to the right of that place value.
3. If this digit is 5 or greater (5, 6, 7, 8, 9), round up: add 1 to the digit in the place value
you are rounding to, and drop all digits to its right.
4. If this digit is less than 5 (0, 1, 2, 3, 4), round down: keep the digit in the place value you
are rounding to as it is, and drop all digits to its right.