ROUND, ROUNDUP, ROUNDDOWN in Excel - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

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What does the ROUND function do in Excel?

The ROUND function rounds a number to a specified number of digits. It rounds up or down depending on the value of the next digit.

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How does ROUNDUP differ from ROUND in Excel?

ROUNDUP always rounds a number up, away from zero, regardless of the next digit.

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What is the behavior of ROUNDDOWN in Excel?

ROUNDDOWN always rounds a number down, towards zero, no matter what the next digit is.

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Write the formula to round the number in cell A1 to 2 decimal places using ROUND.

Use =ROUND(A1, 2) to round the number in A1 to 2 decimal places.

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If you want to round the number 3.14159 down to the nearest whole number, which function and formula would you use?

Use =ROUNDDOWN(3.14159, 0) to round down to the nearest whole number, which gives 3.

What does =ROUND(2.678, 2) return?

A 2.67

B 3.00

C 2.60

D 2.68

ROUND rounds to the nearest value. Since the third decimal is 8 (greater than or equal to 5), it rounds up to 2.68.

Which function always rounds numbers up, no matter what?

A ROUND

B ROUNDDOWN

C ROUNDUP

D INT

ROUNDUP always rounds numbers up, away from zero.

What is the result of =ROUNDDOWN(-3.7, 0)?

A -3

B -4

C -3.7

D -3.0

ROUNDDOWN rounds towards zero, so -3.7 becomes -3.

How would you round the number 123.456 to the nearest ten using ROUND?

A =ROUND(123.456, -1)

B =ROUND(123.456, 1)

C =ROUNDUP(123.456, 1)

D =ROUNDDOWN(123.456, 1)

Using -1 rounds to the nearest ten place.

What does =ROUNDUP(4.321, 1) return?

A 4.3

B 4.4

C 4.0

D 5.0

ROUNDUP rounds up to 1 decimal place, so 4.321 becomes 4.4.

Explain the difference between ROUND, ROUNDUP, and ROUNDDOWN functions in Excel.

Think about how each function treats the digits after the rounding place.

Describe how to round a number to the nearest hundred using the ROUND function.

Digits argument controls decimal places or places to the left of decimal.

Practice

1. What does the ROUND function do in Excel?

easy

A. Rounds a number normally, up or down, based on the next digit

B. Always rounds a number up

C. Always rounds a number down

D. Truncates the number without rounding

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the ROUND function behavior

   The ROUND function rounds a number to a specified number of digits, rounding up or down depending on the next digit.

2. Step 2: Compare with other rounding functions

   ROUNDUP always rounds up, and ROUNDDOWN always rounds down, so ROUND is the normal rounding method.

3. Final Answer:

   Rounds a number normally, up or down, based on the next digit -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   ROUND = Normal rounding [OK]

Hint: ROUND rounds normally; ROUNDUP always up; ROUNDDOWN always down [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing ROUND with ROUNDUP or ROUNDDOWN
• Thinking ROUND always rounds up
• Assuming ROUND truncates without rounding

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to round the number in cell A1 up to 2 decimal places?

easy

A. =ROUND(A1, 2)

B. =ROUNDUP(A1)

C. =ROUNDDOWN(A1, 2)

D. =ROUNDUP(A1, 2)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the function for rounding up

   ROUNDUP is the function that always rounds a number up to the specified decimal places.

2. Step 2: Check the syntax for decimal places

   The syntax is ROUNDUP(number, num_digits), so =ROUNDUP(A1, 2) rounds up to 2 decimals.

3. Final Answer:

   =ROUNDUP(A1, 2) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   ROUNDUP with 2 decimals = =ROUNDUP(A1, 2) [OK]

Hint: ROUNDUP always rounds up; specify decimals as second argument [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using ROUND instead of ROUNDUP for always rounding up
• Omitting the number of decimals argument
• Using ROUNDUP without decimals argument

3. What is the result of =ROUND(3.456, 2) in Excel?

medium

A. 3.45

B. 3.46

C. 3.40

D. 3.50

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the digit to round to

   The formula rounds the number 3.456 to 2 decimal places, so we look at the third decimal digit (6).

2. Step 2: Apply normal rounding rules

   Since the third decimal digit is 6 (which is 5 or more), the second decimal digit (5) rounds up to 6.

3. Final Answer:

   3.46 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   3.456 rounded to 2 decimals = 3.46 [OK]

Hint: Look at next digit: 5 or more rounds up, less rounds down [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Rounding down incorrectly when next digit is 5 or more
• Confusing decimal places with whole number rounding
• Choosing 3.45 instead of 3.46

4. You want to always round down the number in cell B2 to 1 decimal place, but your formula =ROUNDDOWN(B2) is not working as expected. What is the fix?

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A. Change formula to =ROUNDDOWN(B2, 1)

B. Change formula to =ROUND(B2, 1)

C. Change formula to =ROUNDUP(B2, 1)

D. Add a minus sign: =ROUNDDOWN(-B2, 1)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify missing argument in ROUNDDOWN

   The ROUNDDOWN function requires two arguments: the number and the number of digits to round to.

2. Step 2: Add the missing decimal places argument

   Adding 1 as the second argument rounds down to 1 decimal place: =ROUNDDOWN(B2, 1).

3. Final Answer:

   =ROUNDDOWN(B2, 1) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   ROUNDDOWN needs decimal places argument [OK]

Hint: Always include decimal places as second argument [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting the number of digits argument
• Using ROUND or ROUNDUP instead of ROUNDDOWN
• Adding unnecessary minus sign

5. You have a price list with values like 12.345, 7.891, and 5.678 in column C. You want to create a new column that always rounds these prices up to the nearest whole number. Which formula should you use in cell D2 and drag down?

hard

A. =ROUNDDOWN(C2, 0)

B. =ROUND(C2, 0)

C. =ROUNDUP(C2, 0)

D. =INT(C2)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the rounding requirement

   You want to always round prices up to the nearest whole number, so decimals should round up regardless of value.

2. Step 2: Choose the correct function and arguments

   ROUNDUP with 0 decimal places rounds numbers up to the nearest integer, so =ROUNDUP(C2, 0) is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   =ROUNDUP(C2, 0) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   ROUNDUP with 0 decimals rounds up to whole number [OK]

Hint: Use ROUNDUP with 0 decimals to round up whole numbers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using ROUND which rounds normally, not always up
• Using ROUNDDOWN which rounds down
• Using INT which always rounds down