Mastering Rounding: Understanding the Nearest Hundredth

Which of the following options reflects a correct rounding of the unit price to the nearest hundredth?

• A. 0.33
• B. 0.34
• C. 0.35
• D. 0.36

Answer: (B)

Rounding to the nearest hundredth involves looking at the third decimal place (the thousandths place) to determine how to round the second decimal place (the hundredths place). If the third decimal is 5 or higher, the value in the hundredths place is increased by one. If it's lower than 5, the hundredths place remains unchanged. In this case, if the unit price being rounded is, for example, 0.345, the third decimal place is 5. Therefore, the hundredths place (4) increases by one, resulting in a rounded unit price of 0.35. If the value were 0.344, the third decimal would be 4, which means the rounded hundredths place wouldn't change, leading to a rounded price of 0.34. The choice that accurately reflects the rounding rules and results in a rounded value of 0.34 demonstrates a correct application of rounding to the nearest hundredth.

Rounding numbers might seem mundane, but trust me, it’s a skill that can save you from a world of headaches during your Quantitative Literacy Exam! Ever found yourself staring blankly at a number and wondering, “Should I call this 0.34 or 0.35?” Let’s break it down so rounding doesn’t feel like a puzzle you can’t solve.

The Nitty-Gritty of Rounding

So, what does it mean to round to the nearest hundredth? Simply put, you’re taking a number up to two decimal places. But hold your horses! There’s a tiny rule tucked away here: you’ve got to pay attention to the third decimal place — that’s the thousandths place! If it’s 5 or higher, you bump up the hundredths place by 1. If it’s lower than 5, you leave that second decimal alone. You following me so far?

Let’s Get Practical

Take a look at an example to make this clearer. Let’s say we’re rounding the number 0.345. The situation is straightforward: since the third decimal (5) is equal to or greater than 5, we dance the dance of rounding and raise the 4 in the hundredths place to a 5, giving us 0.35. Easy, right?

But what if we had a number like 0.344? Here, the third decimal (4) keeps it low-key, meaning the hundredths place stays at 4, and we round down to 0.34. No drama necessary!

Why It Matters

Every time you round correctly, you’re not just saving yourself a headache; you’re also sharpening your quantitative skills. Why is that important? Well, many real-world scenarios — think budgeting, measuring, and even basic calculations in jobs — depend on accurate rounding. Imagine trying to divide a pizza among friends while messing up those little numbers; chaos ensues!

Review and Reflect

Now that you grasp the nuts and bolts of rounding, let’s reflect. The correct answer when asked which reflects the proper rounding to the nearest hundredth in our example is indeed 0.34. Remember, knocking down numbers isn’t just about memorizing tricks; it’s a foundational skill that you’ll employ time and again in both academic and everyday math.

As you continue studying for your upcoming exams, take a moment to practice this with different numbers. You might be surprised at how quickly it becomes second nature! The more you work with these concepts, the more confident you’ll be when the time comes to put pencil to paper.

In summary, rounding to the nearest hundredth isn’t just about getting the right answer; it’s about mastery of a principle that will serve you well beyond the exam room. So grab your math tools and tackle those decimals with the confidence of a pro!