Problem 25 - Elementary Algebra

Question

$$ \text { Round } 351 \text { to the nearest ten. } $$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

350

Step 1 - Identify the tens and units place

Look at the number 351. The tens place is occupied by the digit 5 and the units place is occupied by the digit 1.

Step 2 - Determine rounding rule

If the digit in the units place (1) is less than 5, you round down. If it is 5 or more, you round up.

Step 3 - Apply the rounding rule

Since 1 is less than 5, round down. This means the tens place (5) remains the same, and the units place (1) becomes 0.

Step 4 - Write the rounded number

Replace the units digit with 0, resulting in the number 350.

Key Concepts

headline of the respective core concept

Rounding numbers might seem tricky at first, but once you understand the rules, it becomes much easier. When you round a number, you are finding the nearest value at a specified place value, which in this case is the 'nearest ten'. This involves determining which two tens the number is between and then deciding which one it is closest to. Let's dive into some core concepts linked to rounding!

headline of the respective core concept

One of the essential steps when rounding numbers is understanding the rounding rules. These rules help us decide whether to round a number up or down based on its digits. Here's a simple breakdown of the rules:

• If the digit we are looking at is 5 or more, we round up.
• If the digit is less than 5, we round down.

For example, when rounding 351 to the nearest ten, we look at the units place, which is 1. Since 1 is less than 5, we follow the rule and round down.

headline of the respective core concept

It's crucial to understand the place value of digits in a number to round correctly. Place value refers to the value of a digit based on its position within a number. In the number 351:

• The digit 3 is in the hundreds place, meaning it represents 300.
• The digit 5 is in the tens place, meaning it represents 50.
• The digit 1 is in the units place, meaning it represents 1.

Knowing the place value helps us easily identify which digit to focus on when rounding to the nearest ten.

headline of the respective core concept

When rounding to the nearest ten, we focus primarily on the tens and units place of the number. Let's see how this works in the example of 351:

• First, identify the tens place and the units place. In 351, the tens place is 5, and the units place is 1.
• Next, look at the units digit, which is 1.
• Apply the rounding rule: since 1 is less than 5, we round down.

This means the tens place stays the same (5), and the units place becomes 0. Thus, 351 rounded to the nearest ten is 350.