Rounding to Nearest 10 / 100 / 1000
This topic covers 4 learning steps, guiding your child from the basics through to confident problem-solving. Each step includes a worked example and adaptive practice questions.
What Your Child Will Learn
- Round to Nearest 10
Round whole numbers to the nearest 10 - Round to Nearest 100
Round whole numbers to the nearest 100 - Round to Nearest 1000
Round to the nearest 1000 - Mixed Rounding
Choose the correct rounding level and apply
Common Mistakes
- Confusing significant figures with decimal places (e.g. rounding 0.004567 to 1 significant figure as 0.0 instead of 0.005)
Significant figures start from the first non-zero digit, regardless of where the decimal point is. In 0.004567, the first significant figure is 4. Rounded to 1 significant figure: 0.005. - Not keeping placeholder zeros when rounding large numbers (e.g. rounding 4,567 to 2 significant figures as 46 instead of 4,600)
When rounding, you must keep the number the same SIZE. 4,567 rounded to 2 significant figures is 4,600 — the zeros hold the place value. Without them, the number would be completely different.
Tips for Parents
- Start by counting significant figures in different numbers: "How many significant figures in 305? (3) In 0.0420? (3) In 7000? (1, unless told otherwise)"
- Practise with real measurements: "Your height is 1.523 m. Rounded to 3 significant figures, that is 1.52 m. To 2 significant figures, it is 1.5 m."
- Use estimation as a context: "The crowd at the match was 34,782. The newspaper says 'about 35,000.' That is rounding to 2 significant figures."
- Distinguish between decimal places and significant figures with examples: "0.0356 to 2 decimal places is 0.04, but to 2 significant figures is 0.036."
Key Words
- Significant figures — The important digits in a number, starting from the first non-zero digit — 0.00456 has 3 significant figures (4, 5, 6).
- Round — Approximate a number to a certain level of accuracy.
- Placeholder zero — A zero that holds a position but is not significant — the zeros in 4,600 (when rounded) keep the number in the thousands.
- Approximate — Close to the exact value but not exact — useful for estimation.
- Decimal places — The number of digits after the decimal point — different from significant figures.
Where This Fits
Before this topic: Children should be able to round whole numbers to the nearest 10, 100, or 1,000, and round decimals to a given number of decimal places.
After this topic: Rounding to significant figures is used throughout secondary school in measurement, estimation, and scientific calculations, and is essential for presenting answers to an appropriate degree of accuracy.
How MathCraft Teaches This
In MathCraft, Rounding to Nearest 10 / 100 / 1000 is taught through the Algebra & Arithmetic adventure track. Your child follows guided lessons with friendly characters, works through examples step by step, then practises with questions that adapt to their level.
The adaptive engine tracks mastery across all 4 steps, revisiting concepts your child finds tricky and advancing when they're ready. Parents can see detailed progress in the Parent Dashboard.
Practise Rounding to Nearest 10 / 100 / 1000 with MathCraft
Step-by-step lessons, worked examples, and adaptive practice — all wrapped in an adventure game your child will love.
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