How to Convert Decimals to Whole Numbers?

A number is an arithmetic term used to represent quantity and make calculations. A written symbol like “5”, which represents a number, is known as a numeral.

Whole numbers and decimal numbers are the types of numbers. Whole numbers contain natural numbers and zero, and decimal numbers are numbers that contain whole number parts and fractional parts separated by a decimal (.).

Numbers

Numbers are the mathematical values used for counting, measuring, labelling, and measuring fundamental quantities. They are also known as numerals. Numbers are used in various arithmetic values to carry out various arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and so on that are used in everyday life for calculations.

Types of Numbers

There are many types of numbers -

• Natural Numbers - Natural numbers are numbers that start from 1 and end at infinity. They are denoted by ‘N’.

Example - 1, 2, 3,.... & so on.

• Whole Numbers - Whole numbers are the numbers that include all natural numbers and 0. They are denoted by ‘W’.

Example - 0, 1, 2, …..& so on.

• Decimal Numbers - Decimals are numbers that are divided into two parts: a whole number and a fractional part separated by a decimal point.

Example - 10.5, 5.7, etc.

• Prime Numbers - A natural number greater than one with only one and itself as factors. It is denoted by the letter 'P’.

Example - 2, 3, etc.

• Composite Numbers - Composite numbers are those numbers that have two or more two factors.

Example - 4, 6, 8, etc.

Whole Numbers

Whole Numbers are natural numbers starting with zero.

Example - 0, 1, 2, ….& so on.

There are some important facts about whole numbers which will help you understand the concept:

• All natural numbers are whole numbers.

• All counting numbers are whole numbers.

Decimal Numbers

Decimal numbers are one of the types of numbers that include the whole number and the fractional part separated by a decimal point. The decimal point is the dot between the whole number and the fractions.

Example - 34.5 is a decimal number.

34 is a whole number part, 5 is the fractional part and “.” is the decimal point.

Conversion of Decimal to the Whole Number

For rounding decimals to the nearest whole number, there are two major rules:

• Analyse the digit at the first decimal place, i.e., the tenth place, to round a decimal to the nearest whole number.

• If the tenth place value is 5 or greater, the digit in the one's place increases by one, and the digits in the tenth place become 0.

Example - Convert 5.7 into a whole number.

In 5.7, analyse the digit at the tenth place. Here 7 is more than 5. Therefore, we have to round off the number up to the nearest whole number, 6.

Practice Questions

Convert the following decimal number into whole numbers -

1. 24.62

2. 9.42

3. 52.74

4. 4.33

Solve - 1. In 24.62, analyse the digit at the tenth place. Here 6 is more than 5. Therefore we have to round off the number up to the nearest whole number, 25.

Solve - 2. In 9.42, analyse the digit at the tenth place. Here 4 is less than 5. Therefore we have to round off the number up to the nearest whole number, 9.

Solve - 3. In 52.74, analyse the digit at the tenth place. Here 7 is more than 5. Therefore we have to round off the number up to the nearest whole number, 53.

Solve - 4. In 4.33, analyse the digit at the tenth place. Here 3 is less than 5. Therefore we have to round off the number up to the nearest whole number 4.

Conclusion

In our daily lives, we employ both whole and decimal numbers for calculations. Whether it is a whole number or a decimal number, we encounter these in our daily life. This article taught us how to change decimal values into whole numbers.