Jocelyn V.

asked • 10/03/16

why does 5 and up make the number round up

i want to figure this out so i can tell this to my teacher

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Michael A. answered • 10/03/16

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Because 5 and up is closer to the next highest digit, you round up. 
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Mark M.

Well 5 is no closer to 10 than it is to 0.
The convention, not law, is that if rounding is required and 5 is present the number is rounded to be even.
E.g., 37.5 rounds to 38, 36.5 rounds to 36.
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10/03/16

Michael A.

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Sorry, but the rule is that if the number you are rounding is followed by 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, then you round the number up. You do not round down when the following number is 5. If the number is followed by 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, that is when you round down. 
 
If the number is followed by 0, then that is just the number itself, e.g., 38.0 = 38. 
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10/03/16

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