Basic Mathematics

Rounding is a way of reducing the complexity of a number.

The number line below shows that 63 is between 60 and 70, but nearer to 60.
63 rounded to the nearest ten is 60.

Rounding numbers to the nearest ten means to increase (round up) or to decrease (round down) the numbers to the nearest multiple of 10.

To round to the nearest ten, look at the ones place.
1. If it is less than 5, round down.
2. If it is 5 or more, round up.

Round 236 to the nearest ten.
The ones digit 6 is "5 or more," so round up to 240.

Round 2,134 to the nearest ten.
The ones digit 4 is "less than 5," so round down to 2,130.

Rounding numbers to the nearest hundred, thousand, etc.,follows the same procedure.

First, look at the digit to the right of the place you are rounding to.
1. If this digit is less than 5, round down.
2. If this digit is 5 or more, round up.
3. In all cases, add zeros in all places to the right of the place that you are rounding to.

Round 15,499 to the nearest thousand.
Because the 4 in the hundreds place is "less than 5," round down to 15,000.

627 becomes 600 rounded to the nearest hundred.
The digit 2 in the tens place is 5. So, round down by putting zeros in both the tens and ones place.

23.62 becomes 24.00 rounded to the nearest whole number.
The digit 6 in the tenths place is >5. So, round up by adding 1 one and putting zeros in the other places.

528,745 becomes 529,000 rounded to the nearest thousand.
The digit 7 in the hundreds place is >5. So round up by adding 1 thousand and putting zeros in the other places.