Round 3,278 to the nearest hundred.

• A. 3,300
• B. 3,200
• C. 3,000
• D. 3,400

Answer: (A)

When rounding to the nearest hundred, focus on the tens digit. In 3,278, the tens digit is 7, which means we round up. The hundreds part goes from 2 to 3, and the tens and ones become 0, giving 3,300. The halfway point between 3,200 and 3,300 is 3,250, and 3,278 is above that, so it rounds up to 3,300. Choosing 3,200 would happen if the tens digit were 4 or less, and 3,000 would be rounding to the nearest thousand, not the hundred. 3,400 would require the number to be at least 3,350, which it isn’t.