Rounding Numbers Practice

Practise rounding whole numbers to the nearest ten, hundred or thousand — a key estimation skill used across all of math.

Grades 3–4 · 3.NBT⚡ Estimation
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How to round a number

Rounding replaces a number with the nearest “neat” one — the closest ten, hundred or thousand — so it is easier to work with or estimate. The whole method comes down to looking at a single digit.

  1. Find the place you are rounding to (tens, hundreds…).
  2. Look at the digit just to its right.
  3. If that digit is 5 or more, round up; if it is 4 or less, round down.
  4. Everything to the right becomes zeros.

Worked examples

Rounding upRound 47 to the nearest ten — the ones digit is 7 (5 or more), so round up to 50.
Rounding downRound 1,243 to the nearest hundred — the tens digit is 4 (4 or less), so round down to 1,200.
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Tips & common mistakes

The only digit that decides the answer is the one immediately to the right of your rounding place — ignore the rest. The classic confusion is the halfway point: by convention, 5 rounds up. Rounding is also your best friend for checking other answers, which is why it appears all over this site’s tips.

  • Looking at the wrong digit — always check the one just to the right of the target place.
  • Forgetting to turn the trailing digits into zeros.
  • Rounding 45 down to 40 — a 5 rounds up, to 50.

Frequently asked questions

How do you round a number?

Look at the digit just right of the place you are rounding to. If it is 5 or more, round up; 4 or less, round down. The digits to the right become zeros.

Does 5 round up or down?

Up, by the standard convention. So 45 rounds to 50 and 250 rounds to 300.

What grade is rounding?

Rounding to the nearest 10 and 100 is a grade 3 skill; rounding larger numbers continues into grade 4.

Why is rounding useful?

It makes numbers easier to add or compare in your head, and it is the quickest way to estimate and check an answer.

Which digit do I look at?

Only the one immediately to the right of your rounding place — not the whole rest of the number.

Keep practising

← Place valueComparing numbersRounding decimals3rd grade math

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