This skill deals with rounding numbers to the nearest 10 or 100 or 1000, etc. It also helps us understand the concept of place values.
It is important to know, at a glance, the place value of a specific digit. When working with whole numbers (integers), these place values are assigned by going right-to-left.
The ONES place is the last digit on the right. Then, moving left, we find the TENS place, then the HUNDREDS place. The THOUSANDS place is the 4th digit from the right. Then we find the TEN THOUSANDS place, the HUNDRED THOUSANDS place, and the MILLIONS place. And so on…
When we are working with decimals, all of the previously-named place values are to the LEFT of the decimal. The decimal place values are assigned by going left-to-right.
The TENTHS place is the first digit after the decimal. Then, moving to the right, we have the HUNDREDTHS place, then the THOUSANDTHS place. The TEN-THOUSANDTHS place is the 4th digit. The HUNDRED-THOUSANDTHS place is the 5th digit. The MILLIONTHS place is the 6th digit, and so on.
When we round to a place value, we check the digit to the right of it. If it is a 5 or greater, we round up. If it is 4 or less, we round down.
For example, let us round 864,027 to the nearest TEN THOUSANDS place. We look at the digit to the right: 4. Since this digit is 4 or less, we round down. The answer is 860,000.
Now let us try a decimal. Round 3.14159 to the nearest THOUSANDTHS place. We look at the digit to its right: 5. Since this digit is 5 or greater, we round up. The answer is 3.142.
It is important to know, at a glance, the place value of a specific digit. When working with whole numbers (integers), these place values are assigned by going right-to-left.
The ONES place is the last digit on the right. Then, moving left, we find the TENS place, then the HUNDREDS place. The THOUSANDS place is the 4th digit from the right. Then we find the TEN THOUSANDS place, the HUNDRED THOUSANDS place, and the MILLIONS place. And so on…
When we are working with decimals, all of the previously-named place values are to the LEFT of the decimal. The decimal place values are assigned by going left-to-right.
The TENTHS place is the first digit after the decimal. Then, moving to the right, we have the HUNDREDTHS place, then the THOUSANDTHS place. The TEN-THOUSANDTHS place is the 4th digit. The HUNDRED-THOUSANDTHS place is the 5th digit. The MILLIONTHS place is the 6th digit, and so on.
When we round to a place value, we check the digit to the right of it. If it is a 5 or greater, we round up. If it is 4 or less, we round down.
For example, let us round 864,027 to the nearest TEN THOUSANDS place. We look at the digit to the right: 4. Since this digit is 4 or less, we round down. The answer is 860,000.
Now let us try a decimal. Round 3.14159 to the nearest THOUSANDTHS place. We look at the digit to its right: 5. Since this digit is 5 or greater, we round up. The answer is 3.142.
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