Worked example 4: Rounding off
QUESTION
Round off the following numbers to the indicated number of decimal places:
1.
120
99
=1, 1 _ 2 _to 3 decimal places.
2.=3,141592653... to 4 decimal places.
3.
p
3 =1,7320508... to 4 decimal places.
4.2,78974526 to 3 decimal places.
SOLUTION
Step 1: Mark off the required number of decimal places
If the number is not a decimal you first need to write the number as a decimal.
1.
120
99
=1,212j 121212 : : :
2.=3,1415j 92653 : : :
3.
p
3 =1,7320j 508 : : :
4.2,789j 74526
Step 2: Check the next digit to see if you must round up or round down
1.The last digit of^12099 =1,212j 1212121 _ 2 _must be rounded down.
2.The last digit of=3,1415j 92653 : : :must be rounded up.
3.The last digit of
p
3 =1,7320j 508 : : :must be rounded up.
4.The last digit of 2,789j 74526 must be rounded up.
Since this is a 9 we replace it with a 0 and round up the second last digit.
Step 3: Write the final answer
1.
120
99
=1,212 rounded to 3 decimal places.
2.=3,1416 rounded to 4 decimal places.
3.
p
3 =1,7321 rounded to 4 decimal places.
4.2,790
Exercise 1 – 2:
1.Round off the following to 3 decimal places:
a) 12,56637061... b)3,31662479... c) 0,2666666...
d)1,912931183... e)6,32455532... f) 0,05555555...
2.Round off each of the following to the indicated number of decimal places:
a)345,04399906 to 4 decimal places.
b)1361,72980445 to 2 decimal places.
c)728,00905239 to 6 decimal places.
Chapter 1. Algebraic expressions 13