Find the place you're rounding to, then look at the digit just to its right: 5 or more rounds up, less than 5 stays. Every place after it becomes 0.
roundchange to a nearby, easier number
estimatea close answer found quickly
nearest thousandthe closest number ending in 000
deciding digitthe one just right of the rounding place
Watch for: Looking at a digit two places to the right instead of one. Changing the digits to the left of the rounding place. Rounding up past a 9: 69,700 to the nearest thousand is 70,000, not 60,000.
At home: Round big numbers you see, like a crowd size or a car's price. Ask whether the nearest thousand or the nearest hundred is more useful.
Sample sheet and answer key
Luna's Space Adventure
Grade 4 · Rounding big numbers · 4.NBT.A.3
NameDate
Astronaut Luna is exploring a far-off corner of space. Solve each problem to help Luna's mission go smoothly!
Round it
Look one place to the right. Five or more rounds up.
604,652 to the nearest thousand
247,326 to the nearest ten
636,093 to the nearest hundred
180,229 to the nearest thousand
736,012 to the nearest ten
505,087 to the nearest hundred
67,292 to the nearest ten thousand
145,868 to the nearest thousand
927,589 to the nearest thousand
643,241 to the nearest ten
333,177 to the nearest thousand
899,239 to the nearest ten
840,728 to the nearest hundred
432,488 to the nearest ten
Closer to which thousand?
Mark 1,150. Which thousand is it closer to?
Sheet
Luna's Space Adventure
Grade 4 · Rounding big numbers · 4.NBT.A.3
Answer key
Astronaut Luna is exploring a far-off corner of space. Solve each problem to help Luna's mission go smoothly!
Round it
Look one place to the right. Five or more rounds up.
604,652 to the nearest thousand605,000
247,326 to the nearest ten247,330
636,093 to the nearest hundred636,100
180,229 to the nearest thousand180,000
736,012 to the nearest ten736,010
505,087 to the nearest hundred505,100
67,292 to the nearest ten thousand70,000
145,868 to the nearest thousand146,000
927,589 to the nearest thousand928,000
643,241 to the nearest ten643,240
333,177 to the nearest thousand333,000
899,239 to the nearest ten899,240
840,728 to the nearest hundred840,700
432,488 to the nearest ten432,490
Closer to which thousand?
Mark 1,150. Which thousand is it closer to?
Answer key
New problems every time, three levels (gentle, core and stretch), themes to pick from, a second page if you want one. Each sheet comes with an answer key and a one-page guide for grown-ups.
