Rounding Decimals to the Nearest Tenth

Rounding decimals to the nearest tenth is a fundamental skill in mathematics that helps simplify calculations and present numbers in a more manageable form. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of rounding decimals to the nearest tenth step by step. By following these instructions, you’ll be able to round decimals with ease and confidence.

Rounding Decimals to the Nearest Tenth

Step 1: Identify the Tenth Place

The first step in rounding decimals to the nearest tenth is to identify the tenth place in the decimal number. The tenth place is the first digit to the right of the decimal point. For example, in the number 4.257, the number 2 is in the tenth place.

Step 2: Look at the Hundredth Place

Once you’ve identified the tenth place, look at the hundredth place, which is the second digit to the right of the decimal point. In our example, the number 5 is in the hundredth place. The value in the hundredth place will determine whether you’ll round up or down.

Step 3: Determine Whether to Round Up or Down

To determine whether to round up or down, consider the value of the digit in the hundredth place. If this value is 5 or greater, you will round up. If it is 4 or less, you will round down. In our example, since the hundredth place has a 5, we will round up.

Step 4: Round the Decimal

Now that you know whether to round up or down, it’s time to round the decimal number. To do this, you’ll adjust the value in the tenth place based on your decision in step 3.

• If you’re rounding up, increase the value in the tenth place by 1.
• If you’re rounding down, leave the value in the tenth place unchanged.

In our example, we’re rounding up, so we’ll increase the value in the tenth place from 2 to 3. This gives us a rounded decimal of 4.3.

Step 5: Drop Any Remaining Decimal Places

After rounding the decimal to the nearest tenth, drop any remaining decimal places. In our example, the remaining decimal places are .057. After dropping these, we’re left with our final rounded decimal: 4.3.

Example Problems

Now that we’ve covered the step-by-step process for rounding decimals to the nearest tenth, let’s go through a few example problems to help solidify your understanding.

Example 1: Round 3.14159 to the nearest tenth

1. Identify the tenth place: 1
2. Look at the hundredth place: 4
3. Determine whether to round up or down: Since the hundredth place is 4, round down.
4. Round the decimal: The tenth place stays the same, giving us 3.1.
5. Drop any remaining decimal places: 3.1 (final answer)

Example 2: Round 6.852 to the nearest tenth

1. Identify the tenth place: 8
2. Look at the hundredth place: 5
3. Determine whether to round up or down: Since the hundredth place is 5, round up.
4. Round the decimal: Increase the tenth place value by 1, giving us 6.9.
5. Drop any remaining decimal places: 6.9 (final answer)

Example 3: Round 12.345 to the nearest tenth

1. Identify the tenth place: 3
2. Look at the hundredth place: 4
3. Determine whether to round up or down: Since the hundredth place is 4, round down.
4. Round the decimal: The tenth place stays the same, giving us 12.3.
5. Drop any remaining decimal places: 12.3 (final answer)

Example 4: Round 0.9876 to the nearest tenth

1. Identify the tenth place: 9
2. Look at the hundredth place: 8
3. Determine whether to round up or down: Since the hundredth place is 8, round up.
4. Round the decimal: Increase the tenth place value by 1, giving us 1.0 (since 0.9 + 0.1 = 1.0).
5. Drop any remaining decimal places: 1.0 (final answer)

By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to round decimals to the nearest tenth with ease. This skill is not only useful in everyday life but also in various fields such as science, engineering, and finance. The more you practice, the more proficient you will become at rounding decimals.

Tips for Rounding Decimals to the Nearest Tenth

Here are a few additional tips to help you round decimals to the nearest tenth more efficiently:

• Remember the “5 or more, raise the score; 4 or less, let it rest” rule. This mnemonic can help you quickly determine whether to round up or down based on the value in the hundredth place.
• When rounding up, be mindful of situations like Example 4, where increasing the tenth place value by 1 may result in a whole number.
• If you’re working with a calculator or spreadsheet software, you can use built-in functions to round decimals to the nearest tenth automatically. In Microsoft Excel, for example, you can use the ROUND function: =ROUND(A1, 1) where A1 is the cell containing the decimal number you want to round.

By practicing these examples and following the step-by-step instructions provided in this guide, you’ll become adept at rounding decimals to the nearest tenth. This skill will prove invaluable when you need to simplify numbers for calculations, estimates, or presentation purposes in various contexts.