The Golden Rule of Rounding
Look at the digit immediately to the right of your target rounding place:
- 5 or greater (5, 6, 7, 8, 9): Round UP (add 1 to the target digit).
- 4 or less (0, 1, 2, 3, 4): Round DOWN (keep the target digit unchanged).
Arithmetic 6 min read
How to Round Numbers: Rules, Examples & Cheat Sheet
Learn rounding rules for decimals, nearest tenths, hundredths, whole numbers, and significant figures in mathematics.
Published August 11, 2026
Σ
Basic Math Tools STEM Editorial Team
Verified
Updated: August 11, 2026
Related Interactive Calculators
Practice Tools More from the Blog
View All Articles
Recommended Math Guides
Arithmetic
How to Calculate Percentages: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Master percentage calculations with this comprehensive guide. Learn how to find percentages of numbers, calculate percentage changes, and solve real-world problems with step-by-step examples.
8 min read
Read
Statistics Understanding Standard Deviation: A Clear, Step-by-Step Guide
Learn what standard deviation means, why it matters, and exactly how to calculate it from scratch. Includes worked examples for both population and sample standard deviation.
10 min read
Read
Algebra The Quadratic Formula Explained: How to Solve Any Quadratic Equation
A complete guide to the quadratic formula — what it is, where it comes from, how to use it, and how to interpret the discriminant. Includes multiple worked examples.
9 min read
Read