When reporting a decimal number with lots of digits, we often round the number to make it simpler to comprehend. To round to a particular place value, we must decide whether to leave the digit in that place value at its current value (called “rounding down”) or increase the digit by 1 (called “rounding up”). To determine whether to round down or up, look at the digit for the next smaller place value. Round down if this digit is 4 or less or round up if this digit is 5 or greater. Any other digits in smaller place values can be ignored. For example, round the following numbers to the nearest thousand:

• 5,483. There are 4 hundreds, so round down to 5,000.
• 5,620. There are 6 hundreds, so round up to 6,000.
• 5,500. There are 5 hundreds, so round up to 6,000.

Round the following numbers to the nearest hundred:

• 237. There are 3 tens, so round down to 200.
• 270. There are 7 tens, so round up to 300.
• 250. There are 5 tens, so round up to 300.

Round the following numbers to the nearest ten:

• 92. There are 2 ones, so round down to 90.
• 98. There are 8 ones, so round up to 100.
• 95. There are 5 ones, so round up to 100.

Round the following numbers to the nearest whole number:

• 6.0. There are 0 tenths, so round down to 6.
• 6.7. There are 7 tenths, so round up to 7.
• 6.5. There are 5 tenths, so round up to 7.

Round the following numbers to the nearest tenth:

• 1.01. There is 1 hundredth, so round down to 1.0.
• 1.08. There are 8 hundredths, so round up to 1.1.
• 1.05. There are 5 hundredths, so round up to 1.1.

Round the following numbers to the nearest hundredth:

• 0.104. There are 4 thousandths, so round down to 0.10.
• 0.106. There are 6 thousandths, so round up to 0.11.
• 0.105. There are 5 thousandths, so round up to 0.11.

The video below shows how to round a selection of decimal numbers to various place values.