X Tables
Place Value

Rounding to the nearest 10

Use halfway points and number lines to round with understanding.

Quick answer

You round a number to the nearest 10 by looking at the ones digit. If the ones digit is 5 or more, you round up. If it's 4 or less, you round down.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to round any number to the nearest 10 using a number line or by looking at the ones digit. Success signs:
  • You can tell if a number rounds up or down
  • You can use a number line to show rounding
  • You can round numbers like 37, 62, and 85 to the nearest 10
  • You can explain why 43 rounds to 40 and 47 rounds to 50

Why this matters

Rounding helps you make quick estimates. It's useful when you're shopping, measuring, or playing games. For example, if you're buying 37 stickers and 62 pens, you can quickly say you're buying about 100 items in total. Rounding also helps you check if your answers are reasonable.

How it works

Rounding to the nearest 10 means finding the closest multiple of 10 to your number. You can do this by:
  1. Looking at the ones digit (the last digit)
  2. Deciding if it's closer to the lower multiple of 10 or the higher one
  3. Using a number line to help you see the halfway point

Examples you can see

Let's look at some examples using a number line to help us understand. Example 1: 37
  • 37 is between 30 and 40
  • The halfway point is 35
  • Since 37 is more than 35, it rounds up to 40
Example 2: 62
  • 62 is between 60 and 70
  • The halfway point is 65
  • Since 62 is less than 65, it rounds down to 60
Example 3: 85
  • 85 is between 80 and 90
  • The halfway point is 85
  • Since 85 is exactly halfway, it rounds up to 90

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Rounding Race You are a space explorer on a mission to land on a planet. The planet's landing zones are marked by numbers that must be rounded to the nearest 10 to find the correct zone.
  • First landing zone: 23
  • Second landing zone: 58
  • Third landing zone: 74
  • Fourth landing zone: 91
Your job is to help the space ship land safely by rounding each number to the nearest 10.
  • 23 rounds to 20
  • 58 rounds to 60
  • 74 rounds to 70
  • 91 rounds to 90
Great job! You've successfully landed your spaceship on the correct zones.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 45 rounds to 40 because 45 is closer to 40 than 50
    Why it happens: Confusing the halfway point rule
    Fix: Remember that when a number is exactly halfway, it rounds up to the higher number
  • Mistake: Looking at the tens digit instead of the ones digit
    Why it happens: Not understanding what "rounding to the nearest 10" means
    Fix: Always focus on the last digit (ones digit) to decide if you round up or down
  • Mistake: Forgetting that 5 rounds up
    Why it happens: Not remembering the rule for halfway points
    Fix: Use a number line or remember the saying "5 and up, round it up"

Parent and carer guide

Rounding to the nearest 10 is a skill that builds on understanding place value. Here's how to help your child:
  • Use a number line at home to show where numbers fall between multiples of 10
  • Practice with real-life examples like shopping prices or distances
  • Encourage your child to say out loud whether they round up or down
  • Don't worry if they make a mistake at first - it's part of learning
  • Use games like the space adventure to make rounding fun
What to say:
  • "Let's look at the ones digit to see if we round up or down"
  • "If the ones digit is 5 or more, we round up"
  • "If the ones digit is 4 or less, we round down"
What not to worry about:
  • Your child might sometimes get the halfway point wrong at first
  • They may need to use a number line to start with
  • It's normal for rounding to take a bit of practice

Practice questions

  1. Round 24 to the nearest 10
  2. Round 67 to the nearest 10
  3. Round 35 to the nearest 10
  4. Round 89 to the nearest 10
  5. Round 12 to the nearest 10
  6. Round 56 to the nearest 10
  7. Round 93 to the nearest 10
  8. Round 48 to the nearest 10
Answers:
  1. 20
  2. 70
  3. 40
  4. 90
  5. 10
  6. 60
  7. 90
  8. 50

FAQ

What does "rounding to the nearest 10" mean?

It means finding the multiple of 10 that your number is closest to. For example, 37 is closer to 40 than to 30, so it rounds to 40.

Why do we round numbers?

We round numbers to make them easier to work with, especially for quick estimates. It's useful when you're shopping, measuring, or solving problems quickly.

What happens when a number is exactly halfway between two multiples of 10?

When a number is exactly halfway, we round up to the higher multiple of 10. For example, 35 rounds to 40, and 65 rounds to 70.

How can I practice rounding at home?

You can practice by looking at prices in a shop, measuring things around the house, or using number lines to see where numbers fall.

Is rounding the same as estimating?

Yes! Rounding is a type of estimation. When you round to the nearest 10, you're estimating the number to the nearest 10.