Lesson 3: Rounding Whole Numbers
Rounding makes numbers easier to work with by changing them to nearby values that end in zero. This is especially helpful when estimating.
How to Round
- Find the place you are rounding to (ones, tens, hundreds, etc.).
- Look at the digit to the right of that place.
- If it is 5 or more, round up.
- If it is 4 or less, round down.
Examples
Round 46 to the nearest ten ? 50 (since 6 is 5 or more)
Round 234 to the nearest hundred ? 200 (since 3 is 4 or less)
Round 1,278 to the nearest thousand ? 1,000 (since 2 is 4 or less)
Why It Matters
Rounding helps estimate totals, check answers, and simplify calculations in everyday life like estimating prices or travel time.