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Round whole numbers to a specified place

Rounding a whole number to a specified place replaces it with the nearest multiple of the corresponding power of ten, preserving the digits to the left of that place and changing the remaining digits to zeros. Using place value and a number-line interpretation, the determining digit is less than 5 or at least 5; ties are conventionally rounded up. This scope excludes rounding decimals, negative numbers, or values by significant figures.

Detailed Explanation: Round whole numbers to a specified place

To round a whole number to a specified place:

  1. Find the digit in the place you are rounding to.
  2. Look at the digit immediately to its right. This is the determining digit.
  3. If the determining digit is less than 55, keep the rounding digit the same.
  4. If the determining digit is 55 or greater, increase the rounding digit by 11.
  5. Change all digits to the right into zeros.

Example: Round 48,37248{,}372 to the nearest thousand.

  • The thousands digit is 88:

48837248\boxed{8}372
  • Look at the digit immediately to its right, the hundreds digit: 33.
  • Since 3<53<5, keep the 88 the same.
  • Change the digits to the right into zeros.

Therefore,

48,372≈48,00048{,}372\approx 48{,}000

This makes sense because 48,37248{,}372 is closer to 48,00048{,}000 than to 49,00049{,}000.

Learn by doing: Round whole numbers to a specified place

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Subtraction - Estimate Difference - 3 & 2 Digit


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