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Rounding (Tens)

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Basics on the topic Rounding (Tens)

Nearest Ten – Rounding

Imagine you are given sweets as a gift, but instead of the promised seven sweets you actually get ten! This means that the sweets seller rounded up to the nearest ten – what a happy day! But how exactly do you round to the nearest ten? In this text, you will learn how to round numbers to the nearest ten with examples and easy explanations.

How to Round to the Nearest Ten

When rounding off to the nearest tens, a place value chart can help you. You will need a place value chart with hundreds, tens and ones, like the one below:

Place value chart

If you are now asking yourself “how do I round to the nearest ten?”, take a look at the following example and steps:

When rounding to the tens, first you identify the tens place. Next you look at the place value to the right, which is the ones place. If the number in the ones place is below five, we round down to the nearest ten and keep the tens place the same. If the number in the ones place is five or above, we round up to the nearest ten, meaning we add one to the number in the tens place. Every place value to the right of the tens place becomes zero, and any numbers to the left of the tens place stay the same.

Rounding down and up

Here's an overview of the steps required if you want to round to the nearest ten. Follow these steps to round to the nearest ten:

Step # What to do
1 Identify the tens place number.
2 Look at the number to the right in the ones place value.
3 If the ones place number is below five, round down.
4 If the ones place number is five or above, round up.
5 If you are rounding down, keep the number in the tens
place the same and replace the ones place with a zero.
6 If you are rounding up, add one to the number in the tens
place and replace the ones place with a zero.

Rounding to the Nearest Ten – Examples

Below you can find some more examples of how to round each number to the nearest ten. Both examples require rounding to the nearest tens place to find the solution.

Rounding Down to the Nearest Ten

Rounding down 572

The number here is 572. First, we identify the number in the tens place, which is a 7. Then, we go to the place value to the right, the ones place. Here we see a 2. Two is a number that is below five, so we know we need to round down to the nearest ten. This means the 7 in the tens place stays the same, and we replace the number in the ones place value with zero. The 5 in the hundreds place stays the same. This means 572 rounded to the nearest ten is 570.

Solution of rounding down 572

Rounding Up to the Nearest Ten

Rounding up 47

The number here is 47. First, we identify the number in the tens place again, which is a 4 here. In the ones place there is a 7. Seven is a number that is five or above, so we know we need to round up to the nearest ten. This means the 4 in the tens place becomes a 5 because we add one to it, and we replace the number in the ones place value with zero. So 47 rounded to the nearest ten is 50.

Solution of rounding up 47

Rounding to the Nearest Ten – Summary

Remember, to round to the nearest ten, setting up a place value chart can be really helpful.

Follow these steps to round to the nearest ten:

  • Identify the tens place number.
  • Look at the number to the right in the ones place value.
  • If the ones place number is below five, round down.
  • If the ones place number is five or above, round up.
  • If you are rounding down, keep the number in the tens place the same and replace the ones place with a zero.
  • If you are rounding up, add one to the number in the tens place and replace the ones place with a zero.

You can also find a round to the nearest ten worksheet and practise problems after the video. Just click “start exercises” or “download worksheets”.

Transcript Rounding (Tens)

Skylar and Henry have received an invitation for a party. Opening it quickly, they see house sixty-six is the party location. However, the bus they take will only stop at houses of tens, so they will use "Rounding to the nearest ten" to calculate the closest stop to the party. When rounding to the nearest ten, we can use a PLACE VALUE CHART like this to help us set up our Hundreds, Tens, and Ones columns. To round to the nearest ten, we look at the TENS place. Then, we look at the place value to the RIGHT which is the ONES place. If the number in the ones place is BELOW five, we round DOWN to the nearest ten and keep the tens place number the same. If the number in the ones place is five or ABOVE, we round UP to the nearest ten by adding one to the number in the tens place. The ones place is ALWAYS replaced with a zero. Any numbers in place values BEFORE the tens place stay the same. Let’s practice with the number forty-seven. First let's identify the tens place. What number is in the tens place?

Four is in the tens place. Now we look at the place value to the right of the tens place. What number is in the ones place?

Seven is in the ones place. Seven is five or above, meaning we need to ROUND UP to the nearest ten. This means the tens place BECOMES a five because we add one to it and we replace the ONES place with a ZERO. Forty-seven rounded to the nearest ten is fifty. Let's look at another example. Here we see the number five hundred and seventy-two. First, let's identify the tens place. Do you know which number is in the tens place?

Seven is in the tens place. Next go to the place value to the right of the tens place, which is the ones place. What number is in the ones place?

Two is in the ones place. Two is a number BELOW five, so we ROUND DOWN to the nearest ten! This means the seven in the tens place REMAINS the same and the ONES place is replaced with a ZERO. The hundreds place remains a five because it is BEFORE the tens place. Five hundred and seventy-two rounded to the nearest ten is five hundred and seventy. Now that you know how to round to the nearest ten, let’s help Skylar and Henry! Remember, the party is at house number sixty-six. What is the first step you need to do?

First, you identify the tens place. What number is in the tens place?

The number in the tens place is six. What is the next step?

Next, you look at the number in the ones place. What is the number in the ones place?

The number in the ones place is six.

You know that six is a number ABOVE FIVE, so do you need to ROUND DOWN, or ROUND UP?

You ROUND UP to the nearest ten. What is sixty-six rounded to the nearest ten?

Sixty-six rounded to the nearest ten is seventy. Remember, when rounding to the nearest ten with place value, we identify the number in the tens place. Then look at the place value to the right which is the ones place. If the number in the ones place is BELOW FIVE, we ROUND DOWN to the nearest ten and keep the tens place number the same, but if the number in the ones place is FIVE OR ABOVE, we ROUND UP to the nearest ten, meaning we add one to the number in the tens place. The ones place is ALWAYS replaced with a zero and any numbers in place values BEFORE the tens place stay the same. Now we know Skylar and Henry need to get off the bus at house number seventy for the party, let’s go along with them. Now they make their way down to the party! But wait a minute, there’s nobody at this house! “Henry, let me see that invitation again please.” "Wait, did we have the invitation upside down?" "Yes, it's house number ninety-nine. Quick, let's go!” "Phew, we made it just in time!"

Rounding (Tens) exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learnt? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Rounding (Tens).
  • Round to the nearest ten.

    Hints

    To round to the nearest ten, look at the ones place.

    • If the ones place is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, round down.
    • If the ones place is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, round up.
    • When rounding down, the number in the tens place stays the same.
    • When rounding up, the number in the tens place is one more.

    The ones place is always replaced with a 0.

    Solution

    First, look at the number in the ones place. In 34, there is a 4 in the ones place.
    So, 34 will round down. This means the 3 in the tens place will stay the same, and the ones place will be replaced with a 0.
    The number 34 rounds down to 30.

  • Round each number to the nearest ten.

    Hints

    To round to the nearest ten, look at the ones place.

    • If the ones place is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, round down.
    • If the ones place is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, round up.
    • When rounding down, the number in the tens place stays the same.
    • When rounding up, the number in the tens place is one more.
    • The ones place is always replaced with a 0.
    • Any numbers in place values before the tens place stay the same.
    Solution

    When rounding each number to the nearest ten, first look at the ones place and then round up or down.

    • In 236, there is a 6 in the ones place. So, 236 will round up. This means the 3 in the tens place will become a 4 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 236 rounds up to 240.
    _____________________________________________________________________________________________ For the other numbers rounded to the nearest ten:
    • In 234, there is a 4 in the ones place. So, 234 will round down. This means the 3 in the tens place will stay the same and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 234 rounds down to 230.
    • In 87, there is a 7 in the ones place. So, 87 will round up. This means the 8 in the tens place will become a 9 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 87 rounds up to 90.
    • In 82, there is a 2 in the ones place. So, 82 will round down. This means the 8 in the tens place will stay the same and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 82 rounds down to 80.

  • Round the numbers to the nearest ten.

    Hints

    To round to the nearest ten, look at the ones place.

    • If the ones place is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, round down.
    • If the ones place is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, round up.
    • When rounding down, the number in the tens place stays the same.
    • When rounding up, the number in the tens place is one more.

    The ones place is always replaced with a 0.

    Solution

    When rounding each number to the nearest ten, first look at the ones place and then round up or down.

    • In 73, there is a 3 in the ones place. So, 73 will round down. This means the 7 in the tens place will stay the same and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 73 rounds down to 70.
    ______________________________________________________________________________________ For the other numbers rounded to the nearest ten:
    • In 67, there is a 7 in the ones place. So, 67 will round up. This means the 6 in the tens place will become a 7 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 67 rounds up to 70.
    • In 65, there is a 5 in the ones place. So, 65 will round up. This means the 6 in the tens place will become a 7 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 65 rounds up to 70.
    • In 82, there is a 2 in the ones place. So, 82 will round down. This means the 8 in the tens place will stay the same and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 82 rounds down to 80.
    • In 78, there is an 8 in the ones place. So, 78 will round up. This means the 7 in the tens place will become an 8 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 78 rounds up to 80.
    • In 75, there is a 5 in the ones place. So, 75 will round up. This means the 7 in the tens place will become an 8 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 75 rounds up to 80.

  • Round to the nearest ten.

    Hints

    To round to the nearest ten, look at the ones place.

    • If the ones place is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, round down.
    • If the ones place is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, round up.
    • When rounding down, the number in the tens place stays the same.
    • When rounding up, the number in the tens place is one more.
    • The ones place is always replaced with a 0.
    • Any numbers in place values before the tens place stay the same.
    Solution

    When rounding each number to the nearest ten, first look at the ones place and then round up or down.

    • In 124, there is a 4 in the ones place. So, 124 will round down. This means the 2 in the tens place will stay the same and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 124 rounds down to 120.
    ________________________________________________________________________________________ For the other numbers rounded to the nearest ten:
    • In 138, there is a 8 in the ones place. So, 138 will round up. This means the 3 in the tens place will become a 4 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 138 rounds up to 140.
    • In 125, there is a 5 in the ones place. So, 125 will round up. This means the 2 in the tens place will become a 3 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 125 rounds up to 130.
    • In 117, there is a 7 in the ones place. So, 117 will round up. This means the 1 in the tens place will become a 2 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 117 rounds up to 120.
    • In 113, there is a 3 in the ones place. So, 113 will round down. This means the 1 in the tens place will stay the same and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 113 rounds down to 110.

  • Explain how to round to the nearest ten.

    Hints

    For the number 67, there is a 7 in the ones place. So, 67 will round up. This means the 6 in the tens place will become a 7 and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 67 rounds up to 70.

    For the number 63, there is a 3 in the ones place. So, 63 will round down. This means the 6 in the tens place will stay the same and the ones place will be replaced with a 0. The number 63 rounds down to 60.

    Solution

    To round to the nearest ten, look at the ones place. If the ones place is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, round down. If the ones place is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, round up.
    When rounding down, the number in the tens place stays the same. When rounding up, the number in the tens place is one more. The ones place is always replaced with a 0. Any numbers in place values ​​before the tens place stay the same.

  • Which house should Henry and Skylar go to?

    Hints

    Try checking each answer choice to see if it matches each clue.

    • When rounding to the nearest hundred, look at the number in the tens place.
    • When rounding to the nearest ten, look at the number in the ones place.
    • 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, round down.
    • 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, round up.
    Solution

    If the number rounds to 200 when rounded to the nearest hundred, it needs to be between 150 and 249. If the number rounds to 180 when rounded to the nearest ten, it needs to be between 175 and 184. This eliminates 167, 187 and 207.
    The last clue says there needs to be a 7 in the ones place. This eliminates 182.
    The number is 177.

    • 177 rounded to the nearest hundred is 200.
    • 177 rounded to the nearest ten is 180.
    • 177 has a 7 in the ones place.