What is Rounding Decimals? Definition, Examples, Facts (2024)

Rounding Decimals

Rounding is a process to estimate a particular number in a context. To round a number look at the next digit in the right place, if the digit is less than 5, round down and if the digit is 5 or more than 5, round up.

Rounding decimals refer to the rounding of decimal numbers to a certain degree of accuracy. We can round decimals to the nearest wholes, tenths or hundredths.

Rounding decimals is useful to estimate an answer easily and quickly. It is also useful to find out the estimate of the average score of the students in a class.

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1. Rounding to the Nearest Whole

We follow the given steps to round numbers to the nearest whole number:

Step 1- We look at the number we want to round.

Step 2- As we are rounding our number to the nearest whole, we mark the digit in the one’s place.

Step 3- Now we look at the ‘tenths’ place (the digit to the right of the decimal point).

Step 4- (i) If the digit in the tenths column is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, we will round down the number at the ones place to the nearest whole number.

(ii) If the digit in the tenths column is 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, we will round up the number at the one’s place to the nearest whole number.

Step 5- Remove all the digits after the decimal point. The left out number is the desired answer.

Example 1:Round 945.65 to the nearest whole number.

Step NumberObservationWorking Out
Step 1945.65
Step 2We get 5 in the one’s column.
Step 3We get 6 in the tenths column (right of 5)
Step 4We get 6 in Step 3.Round-Up
Step 5946We add 1 to 5 and remove all the digits from the right of the one’s place.

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2. Rounding to the Nearest Tenths

We follow the given steps to round numbers to the nearest tenths:

Step 1- We look at the number we want to round.

Step 2- As we are rounding our number to the nearest tenths, we mark the digit in the tenths place.

Step 3- Now we look at the ‘hundredths’ place (the digit to the right of the tenths column).

Step 4- (i) If the digit in the hundredths place is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, we will round down the number at the tenths place to the nearest tenths.

(ii) If the digit in the hundredths place is 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, we will round up the number at the tenths place to the nearest tenths.

Step 5- Remove all the digits to the right of the tenths column. The left out number is the answer.

Example 2:Round 542.33 to the nearest tenths.

What is Rounding Decimals? Definition, Examples, Facts (22)
Step NumberObservationWorking Out
Step 1542.33
Step 2We get 3 in the tenths column.
Step 3We get 3 in the hundredths place (right of 3)
Step 4We get 3 in Step 3.Round-Down
Step 5542.3We keep 3 as it is, and remove all the digits from the right of the tenths column.

Example 3:Ryan weighs 27.51 kg. What is his weight to the nearest kg?

Step NumberObservationWorking Out
Step 127.51
Step 2We get 7 in the one’s place.
Step 3We get 5 in the tenths place (right of 7)
Step 4We get 5 in Step 3.Round-Up
Step 528We add 1 to 7 and remove all the digits from the right of the ones place.

The weight to the nearest kg = 28 kg.

What is Rounding Decimals? Definition, Examples, Facts (23)

3. Rounding to the Nearest Hundredths

We can follow the given steps to round numbers to the nearest hundredths:

Step 1- We look at the number we want to round.

Step 2- As we are rounding our number to the nearest hundredths, we mark the digit in the hundredths place.

Step 3- Now we look at the ‘thousandths’ place (the digit to the right of the hundredths column).

Step 4- (i) If the digit in the thousandths place is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, we will round down the hundredths place to the nearest hundredths.

(ii) If the digit in the thousandths column is 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, we will round up the hundredths place to the nearest hundredths.

Step 5- Remove all the digits to the right of the hundredths place. The left out number is the answer.

Example 4:The depth of lake Tanganyika is 1,470.158 m. What is the depth of the lake to the nearest hundredths?

Step NumberObservationWorking Out
Step 11470.158
Step 2We get 5 in the hundredths place.
Step 3We get 8 in the thousandths place (right of 5)
Step 4We get 8 in Step 3.Round-Up
Step 51470.16We add 1 to 5, and remove all the digits from the right of the hundredths column.

Fun Fact
– When we do rounding we get an approximate value. A special type of symbol is used to show the approximate value.
For example 6.9 = 7

What is Rounding Decimals? Definition, Examples, Facts (2024)

FAQs

What is Rounding Decimals? Definition, Examples, Facts? ›

Rounding decimals refer to the rounding of decimal numbers to a certain degree of accuracy. We can round decimals to the nearest wholes, tenths or hundredths. Rounding decimals is useful to estimate an answer easily and quickly. It is also useful to find out the estimate of the average score of the students in a class.

What is an example of rounding decimal numbers? ›

Explain the Steps of Rounding Off

The general rule for rounding is as follows: If the number you're rounding has a 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 after it, round it up. Example: 28 rounded to the nearest tens place equals 30. If the number you're rounding has a 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 after it, round it down.

What is the definition of rounding decimals? ›

Round off to estimate the closest whole number in a decimal value. The nearest decimal point should also be evaluated to round off a whole number. Rounding off decimals up to the second decimal place means rounding off the nearest hundredths.

What is an example of a rounded decimal? ›

For example, if you needed to round the example number from earlier (12.9889) to the nearest whole number, you'd start by looking at the ones place: 12. 9889. Since the "9" to the right is greater than 5, you would round up to 13. Since you've gotten a whole number answer, you don't need the decimal point any more.

How is rounding defined for kids? ›

Rounding numbers is a way of simplifying a number to make it easier to work with, especially when doing mental math. When rounding to the tens place, if the number in the ones place is 4 or below, you round down. If the number in the ones place is 5 or higher, you round up.

What is rounding in simple words? ›

Rounding or rounding off means replacing a number with an approximate value that has a shorter, simpler, or more explicit representation. For example, replacing $23.4476 with $23.45, the fraction 312/937 with 1/3, or the expression √2 with 1.414.

Which is the best definition of rounding? ›

the process of replacing a number by another number of approximately the same value but having fewer digits.

What is an example of a decimal? ›

The dot present between the whole number and fractions part is called the decimal point. For example, 34.5 is a decimal number. Here, 34 is a whole number part and 5 is the fractional part. “.” is the decimal point.

What is the saying for rounding decimals? ›

Four or less let is rest and Five or more let it soar are great rounding rhymes to help students remember the rules for rounding.

When rounding decimals, it is important to? ›

Identify the place value to round

Figure out to which place value you want to round your decimal. If you're computing decimals for the purpose of combining prices, for instance, rounding to the nearest hundredth-place value is most appropriate.

How does rounding decimals work? ›

Rounding is a process to estimate a particular number in a context. To round a number look at the next digit in the right place, if the digit is less than 5, round down and if the digit is 5 or more than 5, round up. Rounding decimals refer to the rounding of decimal numbers to a certain degree of accuracy.

How do you explain rounding to students? ›

To show students this, use an example like this: to round 47 to the nearest ten, write a number line on the board or screen. Show students that there are 4 tens so that means 40 will be the first number on the number line. Ask kids what the next ten is. They should respond with 50.

What is an example of rounding off to one decimal place? ›

Rounding to one decimal place means you will round the value of a number limited to one decimal place after an integer number. Let us consider a few numbers here for example. 1.24 is rounded to 1.2. 1.25 is rounded to 1.3.

Why is .5 rounded up? ›

By convention, a fractional part of exactly 0.5 is rounded up. We need a convention, because a number with fractional part 0.5 lies exactly between two whole numbers, so there is no 'closest' number to round to.

What is an example of a number of decimal places? ›

Understanding the Decimal Place Value Chart

For example, the number 0.46 is made up of 4 tenths and 6 hundredths. This can also be written as 0.46 = 0.4 + 0.06 . In other words, it means, 0.46 = 4 / 10 + 6 / 100 .

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