i work at a job where we have to do a stock check of the sweets and here is how it works it is in fractions?

Question

and there is a machine where we have to weigh the sweets and the numbers come up on the screen like this:7.55, 6.35, 8.55.And they told me that if the number is like 6.55 it is the number 7 and if it is something like 4.35 it is the number 3 and then you have to add it to the number on the sheet.But I dont understand how to do this but would like to learn as I will be expected to do this one day and my other work colleagues could use this against ,me in any argument it is most definitely my achilles heel at that job. How do I teach myself this form of mathematics?I think it is fractions, my maths was never that good when I was growing up.

Answer 1

It is really simple

Up to .5 you round it down so:

1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 = 1

Over .5 you round it up so:

1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 = 2

Answer 2

If I apply the rule of ratio and proportion the information given you by your colleages are misleading. The law of proportion says: the product of the means equal the product of the extremes. In your case the ratio is: 6.55 is to 7 as 4.35 is to 3.
The product of the extremes: 6.55 x 3 = 19.65 while the product of the means: 7 x 4.35 = 30.45. The two products are supposed to be equal but based on their info the difference is significant such that if you follow their advice it would result in either overage or shortage later on when the actual counting of the number of sweets will be done. That could mean real trouble for you.

Look for somebody whom you could confide with otherwise there is no other remedy than to count the sweets in quantity of numbers rather than of weights.

I hope this could help you.

Answer 3

To round up a number to a given decimal point, the digits to the right of the required point can be ignored if the first digit to the right of the required decimal point is less than 5 and the second digit to the right of the required decimal point is also less than 5 otherwise add 1 to the required decimal digit.
Using your examples, the first decimal point must be 0
hence 7.55 is rounded to 7.6 which is rounded to 7+1 = 8
Alternatively since the first decimal point is 5 you automatically add one to the integer to make it 8.
6.35 is rounded to 6 because the first decimal point is less than 4.
If the reading is say 6.45 then because the second digit is 5 you add one to the 4 to round it to one decimal point as 6.5 which can then be rounded to 7. I assume that the machine gives the weight in two decimal points and the second decimal point is a 0 or 5.
A number having a large decimal point is reduced by one decimal point at a time using the above method until the required decimal point is obtained. The examples given by Michael B are incorrect and that is:-
7.48 is rounded up to 7.5 and then rounded up to 8.
(I have 37 years of teaching experience)

Answer 4

I think they are just rounding up or down.

if the number after the point is ? .00 to ?.49 you keep the whole number, (like 4 in 4.35) If it is ?.50 to ?.99 you go up to the next number as it is over half, (like the 6.55 example).

Answer 5

What you are doing is rounding out significant figures.

In your case the significant figure is 1 figure which is why 6.55 is rounded out to the single figure 7.

You have been misled on 4.35 which should be rounded to 4 and not to 3.

See Rounding Out in source.

Answer 6

It appears to be a rounding task, just learn the following:

if equal to or above x.50 (x is a whole number) then round it up to the higher number (ie add 1 to x)

if below x.50 ignore the decimal

Answer 7

Yes, most people have understood that you are rounding up or down to the nearest whole number. However some have given examples of only one decimal number. Let's take seven point something: The turning point is always when the decimal part reaches point five zero (.50)

7.48 goes down to 7
7.49 goes down to 7
7.50 goes up to 8
7.51 goes up to 8

Now try with 9.

9.49 goes to 9
9.50 goes to 10
9.51 goes to 10

It won't be a disaster if you get the odd one or two wrong, as they will be borderline measurements anyway.

Good luck in the job.

Answer 8

It appears that your just rounding. No fractions involved.

0-4 round down
5-9 round up.

6.55 is 7 (she rounded up.)
4.35 should be 4 (rounded down.)

Enjoy.

Answer 9

This is called rounding to the nearest whole number.
Look at the number(s) after the decimal point. If it is .5 or above then add one to the whole number and drop everything after the decimal. If it is less than .5 then just drop everything after the decimal.

Answer 10

4.35 is 3? Are you sure its not 4?

Seems like you're trying to round to the nearst whole integer.

.5 and above goes up to the next integer. .4 and below just get rid of anything after the decimal.

examples
1.2 = 1
1.5 = 2
2.3 = 2
2.7 = 3
3.4 = 3
3.8 = 4
4.1 = 4
4.9 = 5

etc.

Answer 11

What seems to be taking place is rounding to the nearest whole number.
Bear in mind that 6.5 is mid way between 6 and 7
6.55 is bigger than 6.5 so 6.55 is closer to 7 than it is to 6 so 6.55 is rounded to 7.
Examples
6.4--->6
3.7--->4
3.4--->3
6.6--->7
9.4--->9
etc

NB
4.35---->4