5.NBT.4: Round Decimals to Any Place
Also written as 5.NBT.A.4 and CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NBT.A.4 · Cluster: Understand the place value system.
The Official Wording
Use place value understanding to round decimals to any place.
Common Core State Standards, Grade 5, Number & Operations in Base Ten · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026
What 5.NBT.4 Means in Plain English
Fifth graders round 3.467 to the nearest hundredth and get 3.47, because 3.467 sits between 3.46 and 3.47 and is closer to 3.47. At the tenths it rounds to 3.5, at the ones to 3. The place named in the question decides which two neighbors to look at.
The thinking is the same as rounding 3,467 to the nearest hundred (4.NBT.3): find the two neighbors and pick the closer one, with a number line when it helps. Rounding decimals makes estimating decimal operations possible (5.NBT.7), and 6th graders lean on it to check decimal computations (6.NS.3).
5.NBT.4 I Can Statements
- I can round a decimal to the nearest whole number, tenth or hundredth.
- I can name the two numbers a decimal lies between.
- I can show a rounding decision on a number line.
5.NBT.4 Worked Example
One decimal rounded three different ways, so the place named in the question is clearly what does the work.
Round 6.284 to the nearest hundredth, to the nearest tenth and to the nearest whole number.
- Nearest hundredth: the hundredths digit is 8, so the neighbors are 6.28 and 6.29. Look at the next digit, the 4 thousandths.6.28 < 6.284 < 6.29, and 4 is less than 5
- 6.284 is only 4 thousandths past 6.28 and 6 thousandths short of 6.29, so it rounds down.6.284 ≈ 6.28
- Nearest tenth: the tenths digit is 2, so the neighbors are 6.2 and 6.3. The next digit is 8 hundredths, more than halfway.6.2 < 6.284 < 6.3, and 8 is 5 or more
- Round up to 6.3. It did not become 6.30 or keep the 84: everything past the tenths place is gone.6.284 ≈ 6.3
- Nearest whole number: the neighbors are 6 and 7. The tenths digit is 2, less than 5, so round down.6.284 ≈ 6
Check it: Put all three on a number line with 6.284: 6.28 is a hair to its left, 6.3 a little to its right, 6 well to its left. Each is the closest mark of its kind.
Common Mistakes with 5.NBT.4
Rounding the wrong digit
6.284 to the nearest tenth given as 6.28
Try this: Underline the digit in the place being rounded to and circle the one after it. Only the circled digit decides, and everything after it disappears.
Rounding in stages
3.449 to the nearest tenth: 3.449 becomes 3.45, which becomes 3.5
Try this: Compare the decimal directly with the midpoint, 3.45. Since 3.449 is below 3.45, it is closer to 3.4, in one step.
Not carrying when a 9 rounds up
2.397 to the nearest hundredth written as 2.310
Try this: Count up from 2.39 by one hundredth aloud: 2.39, 2.40. The 9 rolls over to 0 and the tenths digit grows by one.
Where 5.NBT.4 Fits
Practice 5.NBT.4
Quick Check
- Round 7.853 to the nearest tenth.
- Round 12.046 to the nearest hundredth.
- Round 0.9 to the nearest whole number.