What is 21.459 to 2 decimal places?
Explanation
When we express a number to a specific number of decimal places, we're showing the number with exactly that many digits after the decimal point. This is different from rounding.
In this case, we're expressing 21.459 to 2 decimal places.
The process involves:
- Keeping all digits up to the specified decimal place
- Dropping any digits beyond that point
- Not rounding based on the dropped digits
In this case:
- The original number is 21.459
- We're rounding to 2 decimal places
- The 2nd digit after the decimal point is 5
- The next digit is 9
- Since the next digit (9) is 5 or more, we round up.
Expressing 21.459 to Various Decimal Places
Since the input number has more than two decimal places, here's how it looks when expressed to different decimal places:
| Decimal Places | Expressed Value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 21.46 | Truncated at the 2nd decimal place. |
| 3 | 21.459 | Shown in full, with additional zeros if necessary. |
| 4 | 21.4590 | Shown in full, with additional zeros if necessary. |
| 5 | 21.45900 | Shown in full, with additional zeros if necessary. |
| 6 | 21.459000 | Shown in full, with additional zeros if necessary. |
| 7 | 21.4590000 | Shown in full, with additional zeros if necessary. |
Notice how the number changes as we increase the number of decimal places. This demonstrates the concept of precision in decimal representations.
Examples of Expressing Numbers to Different Decimal Places
| Original Number | Decimal Places | Expressed Result | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21.459 | 2 | 21.46 | Original input |
| 21.459 | 3 | 21.459 | One more decimal place |
| 21.46221 | 2 | 21.46 | Slightly modified number |
| 21.459 | 1 | 21.5 | One less decimal place |
If We Round 7.24 rounded to 1 decimal place :
21.459 rounded to 2 decimal places is: 21.46Explanation
When we round a number to a specific decimal place, we're adjusting it to the nearest value with the desired precision. In this case, we're rounding 21.459 to 2 decimal places.
The process involves looking at the digit immediately to the right of the desired decimal place. If this digit is 5 or greater, we round up. Otherwise, we round down.
Expressing to Decimal Places vs. Rounding
It's important to understand the difference between expressing a number to a certain number of decimal places and rounding to that number of decimal places:
- Expressing to decimal places: Simply show the number with the specified number of digits after the decimal point, dropping any additional digits.
- Rounding to decimal places: Consider the next digit after the specified decimal place. If it's 5 or greater, round up; otherwise, round down.
For example:
- 3.45 expressed to 1 decimal place is 3.4
- 3.45 rounded to 1 decimal place is 3.5