the number system dividing decimals 1 © 2013 meredith s. moody

The Number System

Dividing Decimals

1© 2013 Meredith S. Moody

Objective: You will be able to…

Divide decimals using two different methods


Vocabulary Dividend: A number that is to be divided

Divisor: A number that divides another number

Quotient: The result of division; the number of times one quantity is contained in another

Division bracket: The “box” the dividend is placed inside and the divisor is placed outside


Method 1: Division without the decimalStep 1:

Find the smallest place value of the divisor and dividend

Step 2: Multiply the divisor and dividend by the power of 10 that

corresponds with the smallest place value

Step 3: Put the dividend in the box

Step 4: Put the divisor outside the box

Step 5: Put a decimal after the last digit in the dividend and on the quotient

line right after the last digit in the dividend

Step 6: Divide normally, adding zeros to the dividend when necessary


Guided practice 1, method 1

Divide and round the quotient to the nearest hundredths:

30.2 ÷ 8.2 Smallest place value is tenths

multiply both numbers by 10 Divide 302 by 82 Quotient: 3.68


Guided practice 1, method 1 visual



Divide and round the quotient to the nearest hundredth

491 ÷ 1.3 Smallest place value is tenths

multiply each number by 10 Divide 4910 by 13 Quotient: 377.69



0.25 ÷ 0.05 Smallest place value is hundredths multiply both numbers by 100

Divide 25 by 5 Quotient: 5


Method 2: Division with the decimalStep 1: Multiply the divisor by the value of 10 that

corresponds with the smallest place value

Step 2: Multiply the dividend by the same value of 10

Step 3: Place a decimal on the quotient line directly

above the decimal in the dividend

Step 4: Divide normally, adding zeros to the dividend

when necessary11© 2013 Meredith S. Moody


Divide and round your answer to the nearest hundredth:

30.24 ÷ 8.2 Divisor is 8.2, smallest place value is tenths multiply

8.2 by 10 82 Multiply 30.24 by 10 302.4 Set up the problem; place a decimal on the quotient

line directly above the decimal in the dividend Divide Quotient = 3.69



4.875 ÷ 1.3 Divisor is 1.3, smallest place value is tenths

multiply 1.3 by 10 13 Multiply 4.875 by 10 48.75 Set up the problem; place a decimal on the

quotient line directly above the decimal in the dividend

Divide Quotient: 3.75



0.2575 ÷ 0.05 Divisor is .05, smallest place value is

hundredths multiply .05 by 100 5 Multiply .2575 by 100 25.75 Set up the problem; place a decimal on the

quotient line directly above the decimal in the dividend

Divide Quotient: 5.15


You try!Divide using either method 3.096 ÷ 0.3

10.32 0.0048 ÷ 1.2

0.004 20.5 ÷ 0.005

4100


the number system dividing decimals 1 © 2013 meredith s. moody

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