Student Academic Learning Services (Page 2 of 2) in pdf

Student Academic Learning Services Page 2

Student Academic Learning Services

Page 2 of 2

both examples, we changed the given number to closest number to it that only goes as far as the

hundredths place.

However, in order to round to the nearest hundredth, we need to look at the digit in the next place

over, the thousandths place, to see whether it would be appropriate to round up or down. The

general rule for rounding to a particular place is:

If the next number to the right is a 5, 6, 7, 8, or a 9, then round up

If the next number to the right is a 0, 1, 2, 3, or a 4, then round down

•

So, in the first example above (32.174 rounded to two decimal places), we rounded to the nearest

hundredth. The 7 was the number in the hundredths spot. In order to determine whether to round

up or down, we needed to look at the next digit to the right. Since this digit was a four, we rounded

down to 32.17.

In the second example (153.378), we rounded up the 7, in the hundredths place, to an 8 because the

digit to the right was 8.

Have a look at the following flow chart that describes the act of rounding.

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This document last updated: 7/27/2011

Student Academic Learning Services Page 2