Math - Rounding off numbers

Here is a short introduction on the concept of rounding off numbers. Later on, we will look into the shortcut for this process. I like starting the discussion with this concept because it gives the child an idea of what rounding off really means. I find that when we skip this part, the process becomes mechanical, formulaic, and it loses it's essence. 

Being able to estimate is important for performing operations on numbers as quickly as possible. It is done when the answer you need does not necessarily have to be exact. In order to be able to estimate, you need to know how to round off numbers.

One skill that is crucial in rounding off numbers is finding out between which consecutive tens, hundreds, thousand, and so on, can we find a given number.

         As an example, if we are rounding off 78 to the nearest tens, we need to find out between which consecutive tens can we find. We know that this number is between 70 and 80. We can now plot the number on the number line and determine if it is closer to 70 or 80.

Looking at this number line, we can clearly see that 78 is closer to 80. Therefore, if we round off 78 to the nearest tens, we get 80. Here is a worksheet to help your child practice the skill of determining between which consecutive tens a number can be found. 

Here are some worksheets to help your child work on his or her rounding off skills.

Math 1 - Rounding off to the nearest Tens (Drill)
Drill sheet on finding out between which consecutive tens can a given number be found

Math 1 - Rounding off to the nearest Tens (Practice)
Short practice sheet on rounding off to the nearest tens place using the number line

Math 2 - Rounding off to the nearest Hundreds (Drill)
Drill sheet on finding out between which consecutive hundreds can a given number be found

Math 2 - Rounding off to the nearest Hundreds (Drill)
Drill sheet on finding out between which consecutive hundreds can a given number be found

Math 3 - Rounding off to the nearest Thousands (Practice)
Short practice sheet on rounding off to the nearest thousands place using the number line

Math 3 - Rounding off to the nearest Ten Thousands (Practice)
Short practice sheet on rounding off to the nearest ten thousands place using the number line

Math 3 - Rounding off to the nearest Thousands / Ten Thousands (Practice)
Short practice sheet on rounding off to the nearest thousands and ten thousands place