What is a rounding?

Rounding means changing a number to the nearest ten, hundred, or other place value to make it simpler to work with or estimate. Look at the digit to the right of the place you are rounding to: 5 or more rounds up, 4 or less rounds down.

Examples

• 48 rounded to the nearest ten is 50.
• 243 rounded to the nearest hundred is 200.
• 7.6 rounded to the nearest whole number is 8.

Quick facts

• Rounding is the basis of estimating answers before calculating.
• Exactly 5 in the rounding digit conventionally rounds up.