Why do we round up 0.5000 to 1 instead of rounding down to 0?

Question

Why do we round up 0.5000 to 1 instead of rounding down to 0?

In: 12

Answer 1

Because no matter how many decimal places you use, it gives an exactly equal number rounding up as rounding down.

1 decimal place: .0 through .4 round down, .5 through .9 round up. Five each way.

2 decimal places: .00 through .49 round down, .50 through .99 round up. 50 each way.

Answer 2

Because no matter how many decimal places you use, it gives an exactly equal number rounding up as rounding down.

1 decimal place: .0 through .4 round down, .5 through .9 round up. Five each way.

2 decimal places: .00 through .49 round down, .50 through .99 round up. 50 each way.

Answer 3

In addition to the other answers I think it’s important to note that sometimes it’s necessary to round up or down for real world reasons. If you have a truck that can carry 0.5 Toyota Corollas due to weight, you’re actually going to have a truck that can move 0 Toyota Corollas in most real work applications. You wouldn’t go around advertising that you can move 0.5 Toyota Corollas, you would round down and tell people you cannot move Toyota Corollas.

Answer 4

In addition to the other answers I think it’s important to note that sometimes it’s necessary to round up or down for real world reasons. If you have a truck that can carry 0.5 Toyota Corollas due to weight, you’re actually going to have a truck that can move 0 Toyota Corollas in most real work applications. You wouldn’t go around advertising that you can move 0.5 Toyota Corollas, you would round down and tell people you cannot move Toyota Corollas.