1. The problem is to round the number 35872 to the nearest thousand. 2. The rule for rounding to the nearest thousand is to look at the hundreds digit (the third digit from the right). 3. If the hundreds digit is 5 or greater, round up the thousands digit by 1. 4. If the hundreds digit is less than 5, keep the thousands digit the same and change the digits to the right to zero. 5. For 35872, the hundreds digit is 8 (since 35872 has digits 3 (ten-thousands), 5 (thousands), 8 (hundreds), 7 (tens), 2 (ones)). 6. Since 8 is greater than 5, we round up the thousands digit from 5 to 6. 7. Therefore, 35872 rounded to the nearest thousand is $$36000$$.