What is 12.56 rounded to the nearest hundredth?
Would it be 13?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To round the number 12.56 to the nearest hundredth, we need to carefully look at the decimal places.
Step 1: Identify the place value
The number 12.56 has the following digits:
- The tenths place is the first digit to the right of the decimal point, which is 5.
- The hundredths place is the second digit to the right of the decimal point, which is 6.
We are asked to round to the nearest hundredth, so we need to focus on the hundredths place.
Step 2: Check the digit in the thousandths place
To round to the nearest hundredth, we check the digit in the thousandths place (the third digit to the right of the decimal point). However, 12.56 only has two decimal places, so the digit in the thousandths place is effectively 0.
Step 3: Apply the rounding rule
The rule for rounding is simple:
- If the digit in the next place (thousandths, in this case) is 5 or greater, round the current place (hundredths) up by 1.
- If the digit is less than 5, leave the current place unchanged.
Since the thousandths place is 0 (which is less than 5), we do not round up the digit in the hundredths place.
Thus, the number 12.56 rounded to the nearest hundredth remains 12.56.
Conclusion
No, 12.56 rounded to the nearest hundredth is not 13. It is 12.56. Rounding would only change the value if the next digit (thousandths) was 5 or greater. In this case, it is not, so the value remains the same.
In summary, rounding is a process that adjusts the digits of a number to fit a specified place value. Understanding where to stop and how to apply rounding rules ensures accurate and consistent results.