Rounding Off Numbers

Rounding off a number is necessary so that the accuracy of the result will be the same as that of the problem data. As a general rule, any numerical figure ending in a number greater than five is rounded up and a number less than five is not rounded up. The rules for rounding off numbers are best illustrated by examples. 

Suppose the number 3.5587 is to be rounded off to three significant figures. Because the fourth digit (8) is greater than 5, the third number is rounded up to 3.56. Likewise 0.5896 becomes 0.590 and 9.3866 becomes 9.39. If we round off 1.341 to three significant figures, because the fourth digit (1) is less than 5, then we get 1.34. Likewise 0.3762 becomes 0.376 and 9.871 becomes 9.87. 

There is a special case for any number that ends in a 5. As a general rule, if the digit preceding the 5 is an even number, then this digit is not rounded up. If the digit preceding the 5 is an odd number, then it is rounded up. For example, 75.25 rounded off to three significant digits becomes 75.2, 0.1275 becomes 0.128, and 0.2555 becomes 0.256.