Question

Round $3.985 to the closest cent?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Currently, the cent position, or hundredths position, contains an `color(red)(8)`:

`$3.9color(red)(8)5`

To round, you look at the digit to the right of the place you are trying to round to. In this problem it is the thousandth place which is a `color(blue)(5)`:

`$3.9color(red)(8)color(blue)(5)`

The rule for rounding is:

• If the digit to the right of the place you are rounding is greater than or equal to `5`, you add `1` to the digit in the place you are rounding and make all of the digits to the right `0`.

• If the digit to the right of the place you are rounding is less than `5`, you leave the digit in the place you are rounding the same and make all of the digits to the right `0`.

Because the digit to right of the place where we are rounding is a `color(blue)(5)`, we add `1` to the digit in the place we are rounding and make all of the digits to the right `0` giving:

`$3.9color(red)(9)0` or `$3.9color(red)(9)`