Round 3,346 to the nearest thousand.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The number 3,346 rounded to the nearest thousand is 3,000.
To round a number to the nearest thousand, look at the hundreds place, which is the digit to the right of the thousands place. In this case, the number is 3,346, where the thousands digit is 3, and the hundreds digit is 3. The rule for rounding is simple: if the digit in the place you’re rounding to is 5 or higher, round up the previous digit. If the digit is less than 5, keep the previous digit the same and change all digits after it to zero.
Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
- Start with the number 3,346.
- The thousands digit is 3, and the hundreds digit is 3.
- Since the hundreds digit (3) is less than 5, you leave the thousands digit as it is, which remains 3.
- All digits after the thousands place (the hundreds, tens, and ones places) become zero.
Thus, 3,346 rounded to the nearest thousand is 3,000.
Rounding helps simplify numbers for estimation, quick calculations, or reporting. For example, if you’re estimating the population of a small town and the actual number is 3,346, rounding to 3,000 makes it easier to quickly assess or compare populations with other towns. Rounding is a fundamental concept in mathematics, especially in fields like budgeting, data analysis, and statistics.