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How to Divide and Round Off to the Nearest Hundredth in Decimals

Dividing with decimals does not have to be intimidating. While rounding adds a task to the division process, division is more complicated than difficult. Approach each part of the process methodically, write neatly and ensure that all of your columns are in order. Division is just backward multiplication. So if you know your multiplication tables, you can divide.

Instructions

    • 1

      Set up your problem as usual. For example, the equation to divide 22 by 7 is: 7)22. The dividend, which in this example is 22, may already include a decimal. Whether or not it does, you do not need to do preliminary work. If the divisor, which in this example is 7, has a decimal, then remove it by multiplying both the divisor and the dividend by 10 to the number of digits behind the decimal. For example, multiply 1.23)456 by 10 to the power of 2, or 100, which changes the problem to 123)45600.

    • 2

      Divide the dividend by the divisor. If a decimal is in the dividend, then copy that decimal directly above in the space for the answer, which is the quotient, and divide as usual. If the dividend has no decimal, then divide until you have a remainder, but do not write it after the quotient. Instead, add a decimal point then 0 in the dividend and a decimal in the quotient. Bring down the zero next to the remainder, and divide as usual. For example, 7)22 yields 3 with a remainder of 1, at which point you would change 22 to 22.0 and add a decimal after 3. Bring down the zero to the remainder to make 10. Ten divided by 7 yields 1 with a remainder of 3. Therefore, 7)22 yields 3.1 with a remainder of 3. Continue adding zeros to the dividend and bringing them down to divide.

    • 3

      Divide, adding zeros as necessary, until you reach the 1000ths decimal place, which is three digits after the decimal. Do not worry about remainders. Because you will round to the nearest 100th, they are insignificant.

    • 4

      Round to the nearest 100th, which is two digits after the decimal. To do this, look at the digit in the 1000ths place. If it is a 5 or greater, then round up the digit in the 100ths place, increasing it by 1. If 8 is in the 100ths place, for example, then change it to 9. If, however, a 4 or lower number is in the 1000ths place, then either round the digit in the 100ths place down to zero or keep it the same number. In either case, the digits before the 100ths place remain the same with one exception. If the digit in the 100ths place is 9 and must be rounded up, then change it to a zero and increase the digit in the 10ths place by 1. For example, 3.195 would become 3.20.

    • 5

      Rewrite your rounded answer next to your work. For example, 7)22, which when divided to the 1000ths yields 3.142, rounds to 3.14.

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