Rounding Numbers Let’s find out how!

Think of driving a car up Number Mountain! 5 4 6 3 7 2 8 1 9

If we drive to mile post 2 and put our car in neutral, it’s going to roll back down the mountain. 5 4 6 3 7 2 8 1 9

If we get to mile post 4, what will happen? 5 4 6 3 7 2 8 1 9

But…what if we can get to mile post 5 But…what if we can get to mile post 5? We put our car in neutral, and it doesn’t roll backwards, it goes forward! 5 4 6 3 7 2 8 1 9

So what will happen if we get to mile post 7? 5 4 6 3 7 2 8 1 9

Yes! Our car will roll back down. What can we say about driving to mile posts 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 and putting our car in neutral? 5 4 6 3 7 2 8 1 9 Yes! Our car will roll back down.

How about once we get to 5, 6, 7,8, or 9? What will happen to our car? 4 6 3 7 2 8 1 9 Correct! It will go forward!

Now how does this relate to rounding? If we are rounding, and the number to the right is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, it will make the number we are rounding to go down. Here’s an example rounding to the nearest thousand. If the number to the left is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, the number goes down (stays at 2). 452,346 452,000 Underline what place you’re rounding to, draw an arrow to the number on the right.

Another example… If we are rounding, and the number to the right is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, it will make the number we are rounding to go forward. Here’s an example rounding to the nearest ten thousand. If the number to the left is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, the number goes forward to the next number. 678,620 680,000 Underline what place you’re rounding to, draw an arrow to the number on the right.