» Round 13.045 to the nearest whole number.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
13.045 rounded to the nearest whole number is 13.
Explanation
Rounding numbers is a way of simplifying a number while keeping it close to its original value. The process involves identifying the place value to which you want to round and then looking at the digit immediately to the right of that place value. In this case, we are rounding 13.045 to the nearest whole number.
A whole number is a number without any decimal or fractional part. So we need to focus on the digit in the ones place. In 13.045, the digit in the ones place is 3. The digit immediately to the right of the ones place is the first decimal digit, which is 0.
To decide whether to round up or down, we use a simple rule. If the digit immediately after the place we are rounding to is 5 or greater, we round up. If it is less than 5, we round down.
Here, the digit after the decimal point is 0. Since 0 is less than 5, we do not round up. This means we keep the number in the ones place the same and drop the decimal part. Therefore, 13.045 becomes 13 when rounded to the nearest whole number.
This process is part of estimation skills used in everyday math. For example, if you are measuring something and only need an approximate value, rounding can make calculations easier and quicker. It also helps when reporting values that do not require exact precision, such as in statistics, budgets, and everyday measurements.
It is important to understand how rounding works, especially when working with decimals, as it affects accuracy. While rounding makes numbers simpler, it should always be done carefully based on rules to avoid incorrect assumptions. In this case, the correct answer remains 13.
