Rounding decimals is a common mathematical operation that simplifies a number by reducing
the number of decimal places while keeping its value as close as possible to the original. Here's
a breakdown of how it works:
The Basic Rule: Look at the Next Digit
To round a decimal to a specific place value, you need to look at the digit immediately to the
right of that place value.
● If the digit is 5 or greater (5, 6, 7, 8, 9): Round up the digit in the place value you're
rounding to. This means you add 1 to it.
● If the digit is less than 5 (0, 1, 2, 3, 4): Keep the digit in the place value you're rounding
to the same.
All digits to the right of the rounding place are then dropped.
Steps for Rounding Decimals:
1. Identify the Place Value: Determine which decimal place you need to round to (e.g.,
nearest tenth, nearest hundredth, nearest whole number).
2. Locate the Digit: Find the digit in the identified place value.
3. Look at the Next Digit: Examine the digit immediately to the right of the rounding digit.
4. Apply the Rule:
○ If the "next digit" is 5 or greater, round up the rounding digit.
○ If the "next digit" is less than 5, keep the rounding digit the same.
5. Drop Remaining Digits: Remove all digits to the right of the rounding digit.
Examples:
Example 1: Round 3.14159 to the nearest hundredth.
1. Place Value: Nearest hundredth (second digit after the decimal point).
2. Locate Digit: The digit in the hundredths place is 4.
3. Look at Next Digit: The digit to the right of 4 is 1.
4. Apply Rule: Since 1 is less than 5, keep the 4 the same.
5. Drop Remaining Digits: Drop the 1, 5, and 9.
Result: 3.14
Example 2: Round 7.86 to the nearest tenth.
1. Place Value: Nearest tenth (first digit after the decimal point).
2. Locate Digit: The digit in the tenths place is 8.
3. Look at Next Digit: The digit to the right of 8 is 6.
4. Apply Rule: Since 6 is 5 or greater, round up the 8. (8 + 1 = 9).
5. Drop Remaining Digits: Drop the 6.
Result: 7.9
Example 3: Round 12.5 to the nearest whole number.
1. Place Value: Nearest whole number (the digit before the decimal point).
2. Locate Digit: The digit in the ones place is 2.
3. Look at Next Digit: The digit to the right of the decimal point is 5.
4. Apply Rule: Since 5 is 5 or greater, round up the 2. (2 + 1 = 3).
5. Drop Remaining Digits: Drop the 5.
Result: 13
Example 4: Round 0.99 to the nearest tenth.
1. Place Value: Nearest tenth.
2. Locate Digit: The digit in the tenths place is 9.
3. Look at Next Digit: The digit to the right of 9 is 9.
4. Apply Rule: Since 9 is 5 or greater, round up the 9. When you round up a 9, it becomes
0, and you carry over 1 to the next place value.
○ The 9 in the tenths place becomes 0.
○ The 0 in the ones place becomes 1 (because you carry over 1).
Result: 1.0 (The .0 is important here to show that it's rounded to the tenths place).
Why Rounding is Important:
● Simplification: Makes numbers easier to understand and work with.
● Estimation: Useful for quick mental calculations and approximations.
● Practicality: Often used in real-world scenarios where precise measurements aren't
always necessary or feasible (e.g., money, measurements, statistics).
● Significant Figures: Closely related to the concept of significant figures, which indicates
the precision of a measurement.
Understanding rounding decimals is a fundamental skill in mathematics and has wide-ranging
applications in everyday life.
