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elearning Campus BlogHow to Divide Decimals By Decimals
How to Divide Decimals By Decimals
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Do you get confused about where to place a point when dividing decimals by decimals? Many students find decimal division tricky at first, but once they understand the rule of shifting the decimal point, it becomes easier and simpler.
To divide a decimal by a decimal, move the decimal point to the right in both the divisor and dividend and simply divide it.
In this guide, you will learn how to divide decimals by decimals, fractions, or powers of 10 step by step with all easy examples and explanations.
A Decimal is a way to represent numbers that are not whole numbers; it represents a part of a whole using the decimal point (.) to separate the whole number from the fractional part.
For Example
5.6
In these values, 5 is a whole number, and .6 is the decimal part.
When you divide a decimal by another decimal, the main point behind it is to make the divisor a whole number. Steps to divide decimals by decimals are :
Move a decimal point to the right in both numbers until the divisor becomes a whole number
Multiplying both numbers by 10,100, or 1000, depending on how many decimal places there are. Simply divide the numbers.
Now place the decimal in your answer.
Example ;
Solution
The answer is 4
When dividing a number or integers by a decimal, make the divisor a whole number first. You need to place a decimal point to the right to make it a whole number and move the exact number of places in the dividend. Then simply divide it.
The divisor 0.4 moves the decimal one place to the right to make it 4.
When you move the decimal in the divisor, you must move the exact number of places in the dividend.
0.4 becomes 4, and 8 becomes 80. Now divide it
The answer is 20
Example 02
In 0.05, move the decimal two places right to make it 5.
Move the decimal in 15, then 15 becomes 1500
Now simply divide the values 1500 ÷ 5
If you want to know how to divide a decimal number by a whole number, or use long division. You just need to ignore the decimal and simply divide it, then count where the decimal was in the value. So, place the decimal in your answer at the same position.
Let’s take an Example.
Solution
Just ignore the decimal and divide the 48 by 6
Step 02 :
Now count the decimal where the decimal was in 4.8, so place it in your answer at the same position.
So answer =0.8
Get Guidance from our math experts for more explanation and examples.
You cannot directly divide a decimal by a decimal; it's a little bit complicated. You need to move the decimal point from the divisor to make it a whole number, also remove the decimal from the dividend, then simply divide the values.
The answer is 4.2
Dividing decimals might look tricky, but once you understand where to move the decimal point, it's very easy.
Let’s take an example
Solution
Step 01:
The divisor is 0.8. To make it a whole number, move the decimal one place to the right in both numbers
The answer is 8
When you divide a decimal by a fraction, you can simply turn the problem into multiplication by flipping the fraction.
Example 01
In this rule, you keep the first number (decimal value). Change the division sign into multiplication and flip the fraction.
Solution
The answer is 3.6
To convert the decimal value into a fraction, change the division into multiplication, and flip the second fraction. Then, multiply the fractions and simplify the result. Steps are:
Example: 01
Step 01: Convert the Decimal to a fraction
Example 02
The answer is 3.75
Also, learn about comparing fractions
To multiply a decimal, just move the point to the right, and for division, move the point to the left. Powers of 10 are numbers such as: 10,1000,1000,10,000, etc. Each number has zero added, then it becomes
Step 01: Move the decimal point
To make a divisor a whole number, move its decimal one place to the right, 0.2 to 2
Now remove the decimal in the dividend (0.84), the same number of places, it becomes 0.84 to 8.4
Step 02: Using the long division method
Step 02:
Now simply divide it.
$$=0.8 \times 2$$
Example 02
Solution
Step 01: Keep the first values, change the divide sign into multiplication, and flip the fraction
Step 02: Multiply 2.4 by 3, which is 7.2, so,
=7.22
Step 03: Divide the values
Now values become:
Step 02: Apply the keep, change, and flip rule
Keep the first value, change the division signs into multiplication, and flip the fraction.
Step 03: Multiply the values and simplify them
There are rules to solve the decimals with the power of 10.
When you multiply a decimal by 10,100,100, etc. You just have to move the point to the right as many zeros as there are.
If you want to multiply by 10, then move the decimal one place right because 10 has one zero, so the decimal moves one place right
If you want to multiply by 100, then move the decimal two places right because 100 has one zero, so the decimal moves two places right.
If you want to multiply by 1000, then move the decimal three places right because 1000 has three zeros, so the decimal moves three places right
When you are dividing by 10,100, or 1000, you just have to move the decimal point; no need for actual dividing. There is a rule that says:
Remember this rule and solve the problem.
If you want to divide a decimal by 10, then you move the decimal one place left because 10 has one zero, so the decimal moves one place left.
Example 01
Move the decimal one place to the left, and then it becomes
Example 02
Move the decimal one place to the left.
If you want to divide a decimal by 10, then you move the decimal two places left because 100 has two zeros, so the decimal moves two places left.
Example 01
Example 02
If you want to divide a decimal by 1000, then you move the decimal three places left because 1000 has three zeros, so the decimal moves three places left.
Example 01
Example 02
Decimals are the values that are represented in points. To solve Decimal values, you need to understand the rules of shifting the points, and then it becomes so easy. In our blog, we addressed all queries related to decimals with examples, which helps you in learning decimals. With practice, you will get faster and more confident at solving any decimal division problem.
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