Welcome to rounding to the nearest ten! Rounding helps us work with simpler numbers. When we round to tens, we find the closest multiple of ten to our number. The key rule is to look at the ones digit. If it's five or greater, we round up. If it's less than five, we round down. Let's see how forty-seven rounds to fifty because the ones digit seven is greater than five.
Let's break down the rounding process into clear steps. First, find the ones digit in your number. Second, check if this digit is five or greater, or less than five. Third, round up if it's five or greater, or round down if it's less than five. Fourth, change the ones digit to zero. Let's practice with seventy-three. The ones digit is three. Since three is less than five, we round down. Seventy-three becomes seventy.
Now let's look at examples where we round up. When the ones digit is five, six, seven, eight, or nine, we round up to the next ten and change the ones digit to zero. Twenty-five becomes thirty because five rounds up. Sixty-eight becomes seventy because eight rounds up. Eighty-nine becomes ninety because nine rounds up. Notice how we always go to the next higher ten.
Now let's see examples where we round down. When the ones digit is zero, one, two, three, or four, we round down by keeping the same ten and changing the ones digit to zero. Thirty-four becomes thirty because four rounds down. Fifty-one becomes fifty because one rounds down. Ninety-two becomes ninety because two rounds down. The tens digit stays the same when rounding down.
To summarize what we've learned about rounding to tens: First, always look at the ones digit to decide which direction to round. Second, if the ones digit is five through nine, round up to the next ten. Third, if the ones digit is zero through four, round down to stay at the current ten. Fourth, always change the ones digit to zero after rounding. With practice, rounding to tens becomes quick and easy!