Rounding and Decimals:
Round a Number to the Nearest Whole Number or Integer
Sometimes in real life, we can’t use decimals. For example, the number of people you are inviting to a party can’t be a decimal number. You can’t have 8.7 people but you can have 8 or 9 people. Rounding to the nearest whole number is how we deal with problems like this. The table below shows the rules for whether you round up (from 4.56 to 5) or down (from 4.46 to 4).
Tenths Place
How to round to nearest whole number or integer
Example
0,1,2,3,4
Keep the number in the one's place
17.4 Rounds to 17 \(-3.4\) Rounds to \(-3\)
5,6,7,8,9
Increase the number in the one's place by 1
17.5 Rounds to 18 \(-1.6\) Rounds to \(-2\)
Video Source (09:46 mins) | Transcript
Round 2.3 to the nearest whole number.
Round \(-0.8\) to the nearest integer.
Round 72 to the nearest whole number.
Round 2.94 to the nearest whole number.
Round \(-24.49999\) to the nearest integer.
Round 42.0201 to the nearest whole number.
View Solutions
Solutions
2 (Written Solution )
To find our answer, start with a number line displaying only the numbers between 0 and 3.
Magnify between points 2 and 3. Magnifying will show the decimals between 2 and 3.
Next, find the 2.3.
Finally, we compare the distances before, and after 2.3. We find that 2.3 is closer to 2 and further away from 3.
The correct answer is to round to 2.
\(-1 \)(Written Solution )
To find the answer, start with a number line displaying only the numbers between \(-1\) and 1.
Magnify between the points \(-1\) and 0. Magnifying will show all the negative decimals between \(-1\) and 0.
Next, find \(-0.8\)
Finally, compare the distances before, and after \(-0.8\). We find that \(-0.8\) is closer to \(-1\) and further away from 0.
The correct answer is to round to \(-1\).
72
3 (Solution Video | Transcript )
\(-24\)
42 (Solution Video | Transcript )