Dividing Decimals

Use one of the following strategies for Dividing decimals:

Example: 0.144   /   0.06

Strategy 1: Change the decimals to
                 fractions and divide.		 Strategy 2: Move the decimal points so
                  that the divisor is a whole
                  number and use long division.
Step 1: Change the decimals to fractions:

                0.144= 144/1000 and   0.06 = 6/100                      

Step 1: The divisor in this case is .06, so we need
            to change it to 6, therefore, we have to
            change 0.144 to  14.4
           

                       

Step 2: Divide: Remember that when you divide
            fractions you need to "flip" or take the
            reciprocal of the second fraction and
            multiply.

              144/1000  x  100/6 =  14,400/6000


            (you can cross reduce here if you want)

 Step 2: Divide 14.4 by 6

                              

Step 4: If necessary, convert the answer to a
            mixed number:

                                  2    2400/6000

                       

Step 3:  The answer is 2.4
Step 5: Convert back to decimal form:

                                 2.4

 

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