Definition:Rounding

Definition

Rounding is the process of approximation of a value of a variable to a multiple of a given power of whatever number base one is working in (usually decimal).

Let $n \in \Z$ be an integer.

Let $x \in \R$ be a real number.

Let $y \in \R$ such that:

$y = 10^n \left\lfloor{\dfrac x {10^n} + \dfrac 1 2}\right\rfloor$

Then $y$ is defined as $x$ rounded to the nearest $n$th power of $10$.

When $n = 0$, the operation is referred to as rounding to the nearest integer:

Let $y \in \R$ such that:

$y = \left\lfloor{x + \dfrac 1 2}\right\rfloor$

Then $y$ is defined as $x$ rounded to the nearest integer.

Consider the situation when $\dfrac x {10^n} + \dfrac 1 2$ is an integer.

That is, $\dfrac x {10^n}$ is exactly midway between the two integers $\dfrac x {10^n} - \dfrac 1 2$ and $\dfrac x {10^n} + \dfrac 1 2$.

Recall that the general philosophy of the process of rounding is to find the closest approximation to $x$ to a given power of $10$.

Thus there are two equally valid such approximations:

$\dfrac x {10^n} - \dfrac 1 2$ and $\dfrac x {10^n} + \dfrac 1 2$

between which $\dfrac x {10^n}$ is exactly midway.

The convention on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ is that the greater of the two is used:

$y = 10^n \left\lfloor{\dfrac x {10^n} + \dfrac 1 2}\right\rfloor$

but other systems exist.

When $n < 0$, the terminology used is usually:

$x$ rounded to the nearest $m$th decimal place

where $m = -n$.