Rounding Numbers
In these lessons, we will learn how to round whole numbers to the nearest ten, hundred and thousand.
Related Pages
Significant Figures
Rounding Number Games
More Lessons on Numbers
Sometimes, we do not need to work with very accurate numbers. For example, suppose that the attendance at a football match was 26,239. Most people may just want to know there were 26,000 at the football match instead of the exact number.
We can round off large numbers to the nearest thousand, nearest hundred, nearest ten, or any other specified place value.
Rounding Numbers To The Nearest Ten
Example:
Round 378 to the nearest ten.
Solution:
To round off to the nearest ten, we look at the ones digit.
In the number 378, the ones digit is bigger than 5, so we round up to 380.
378 is 380 when rounded off to the nearest ten.
Remember:
The rule is - if the digit to the right of the rounding place is:
5 or more, round up
4 or less, round down
Example:
1 653 is 1 650 when rounded off to the nearest ten.
53 745 is 53 750 when rounded off to the nearest ten.
How to round numbers to the nearest 10?
If the digit in the ones place is:
5 or higher, round tens place up
4 or lower, leave tens place as is
Digits in other places does not matter.
Example:
Round the following numbers to the nearest 10
738
293
197
Rounding Whole Numbers: Round to the Nearest Ten
- Locate the digit one place to the right of the digit in the indicated rounding place.
- If it is 5 or more, round up by 1. If it is 4 or less do not change.
- Change all digits to the right of the rounding place digit to zeros.
Example:
Round the following to the nearest ten.
a) 63
b) 77
c) 85
Rounding Numbers To The Nearest Hundred
Example:
Round 1 243 to the nearest hundred.
Solution:
To round off to the nearest hundred, we look at the tens digit.
In the number 1 243, the tens digit is less than 5,
so we round down to 1 200.
1 243 is 1 200 when rounded off to the nearest hundred.
Examples:
37 084 is 37 100 when rounded off to the nearest hundred.
54 253 is 54 300 when rounded off to the nearest hundred.
Round 3-digit Numbers to the Nearest Hundred
Use a number line to understand rounding to the nearest hundred.
Rounding Whole Numbers: Round To The Nearest Hundred
Example:
Round to the nearest hundred
a) 1,839
b) 22,386
Rounding Numbers To The Nearest Thousand
Example:
Round 46 225 to the nearest thousand.
Solution:
To round off to the nearest thousand, we look at the hundreds digit.
In the number 46 225, the hundreds digit is less than 5,
so we round down to 46 000.
46 225 is 46 000 when rounded off to the nearest thousand.
Examples:
53 609 is 54 000 when rounded off to the nearest thousand.
36 529 is 37 000 when rounded off to the nearest thousand.
Steps to round numbers to the nearest thousand
- Underline the number that we are rounding to
- Look at the digit to the right of the underlined digit
- If that number is 0-4, the underlined number stays the same all others are zeros,
- If that number is 5-9, the underlined digit goes up by 1. All others are zero.
Example:
Round to the thousands.
1,674
Rounding nearest thousand and to the nearest ten thousand place
Step 1: Identify the significant digit.
Step 2: Look behind to see if go up or remain unchanged.
Example:
Round 34,528 to the nearest thousand and to the nearest ten thousand.
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