Rounding numbers, step by step

Rounding trades an exact number for a nearby friendly one — the skill behind every quick estimate.

The question

867 to the nearest ten

867
867
867
860or870?
867
867870
  1. Find the tens digit first — that is the one that might change.
  2. Now look at the single digit just after it: 7. Nothing further along matters at all.
  3. 7 is 5 or more, so 867 is nearer 870 than 860. It rounds up.
  4. So 867 to the nearest ten is 870.

How it works.

  1. 01

    Find the tens digit first — that is the one that might change.

  2. 02

    Now look at the single digit just after it: 7. Nothing further along matters at all.

  3. 03

    7 is 5 or more, so 867 is nearer 870 than 860. It rounds up.

  4. 04

    So 867 to the nearest ten is 870.