DECIMAL NUMBER DIVISION

Concept: Use division when you need to separate a whole into equal parts. The answer to a division problem is called a quotient. Follow these steps to divide.

Quotient

2

Divisor 4

Dividend

Steps for Dividing Whole Numbers with Decimals

Step 1 | Place the number to be divided (the dividend) inside the bracket.
Step 2 | Place the number by which you are dividing (the divisor) outside the bracket on the left.
Step 3 | Move the decimal point in the divisor all the way to the right.
Step 4 | Move the decimal point in the dividend the same number of digits to the right as it was moved in the divisor.
Step 5 | Place a decimal point in the quotient area directly above the decimal in the dividend.
Step 6 | Determine how many times the divisor can be divided into the dividend, one dividend digit at a time, and place that number (the quotient) above the bracket.
Step 7 | To check your result, multiply the quotient by the divisor, resulting in your original dividend.

Example 1 Divide 252.42 by 4.2

Step 1 | Place the number to be divided (the dividend) inside the bracket. |
Step 2 | Place the number by which you are dividing (the divisor) outside the bracket on the left. | 4.2
Step 3 | Move the decimal point in the divisor all the way to the right. | 42.
Step 4 | Move the decimal point in the dividend the same number of digits to the right as it was moved in the divisor. | 42
Step 5 | Place a decimal point in the quotient area directly above the decimal in the dividend. | . 42
Step 6 | Determine how many times the divisor can be divided into the dividend, one dividend digit at a time, and place that number (the quotient) above the bracket. Begin with 252 divided by 42, which equals 6. | 6 . 42 -252
| Subtract 252 from 252. | 6 . 42 -252 000
| Drop the 4 from 2524.2 and place it next to the 000 | 6 . 42 -252 000 4
| How many times can 42 be divided into 4? None! So place a 0 in the quotient, to the right of the 6. | 6 0. 42 -252 000 4
| Drop the 2 from 2524.2 and place it next to the 4. | 60. 42 -252 0004 2
| How many times can 42 be divided into 42? Once. Place a 1 in the quotient area, to the right of the decimal point. Finally, subtract 42 from 42. The difference is 00. Our quotient is (answer) 60.1 | 60.1 42 -252 00042 42 00
Step 7 | To check your result, multiply the quotient by the divisor, resulting in your original dividend. | 60.1 x 42 = 2524.2