How to Do Division With Decimals

A decimal is any number that is not whole and not written as a fraction. Decimals are used all the time, either to express a number between two whole numbers (such as 3.5) or for calculating percentages. (The number 1 represents 100 percent, and 0.88 is the equivalent of 88 percent.) All fractions that do not divide into whole numbers can be divided to form decimals. For example, 3/5 = 0.6. The process for dividing with decimals can appear complicated, but it is relatively straightforward with practice.

Instructions

    • 1

      Identify the divisor (the number you're dividing by) and the dividend (the number that is being divided into); the final answer is known as the quotient. For example, suppose you want to divide 0.12 (dividend) by 0.008 (divisor).

    • 2

      Move the decimal points in the dividend until it is a whole number. Thus, the decimal point in 0.12 is moved twice to become 12.

    • 3

      Move the decimal points in the divisor the same number of spots as the dividend's decimal points were moved. In the example, 0.008 becomes 0.8

    • 4

      Place a decimal point in the quotient exactly where the decimal point is for the dividend. This will help keep track of the final answer's decimal point location.

    • 5

      Move zeroes from the front of the divisor to the back of the dividend until the divisor is also a whole number. Thus, in the example, you are effectively dividing 120 by 8, so perform standard long division to obtain the final answer of 15.

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