Rounding decimals makes numbers easier to work with while keeping them close to their original value. You must be able to round decimals to the nearest whole number or to a specified number of decimal places.

To round a decimal:

Identify the place value you are rounding to
Look at the digit immediately to the right

• If that digit is 5 or more, round up.
• If it is 4 or less, round down.

Examples:

• 4.6 rounded to the nearest whole number is 5
• 7.42 rounded to 1 decimal place is 7.4
• 3.785 rounded to 2 decimal places is 3.79

When rounding, only the digit in the rounding position changes; digits to the right are removed.

Rounding decimals is commonly used in measurements, money, and calculations where exact values are not required, so accuracy and consistency are important.