Question
how to you divide decimals straight down
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To divide decimals straight down, you can follow these steps:
1. **Align the numbers:** Write the divisor (the number you are dividing by) outside the long division symbol and the dividend (the number being divided) inside.
2. **Move the decimal point:** If the divisor (the number you are dividing by) is a decimal, move the decimal point to the right until it becomes a whole number. Count how many places you moved the decimal.
3. **Move the decimal in the dividend:** Move the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places to the right. If necessary, add zeros to the right of the dividend.
4. **Perform the division:** Now, divide as you typically would, ignoring the decimal points for the moment.
5. **Place the decimal point:** Once you have completed the division, place the decimal point in the quotient (the answer) directly above where the decimal point is in the adjusted dividend.
6. **Continue dividing:** If there are more numbers to bring down, continue the division process. Keep your decimal point in the quotient aligned with the rest.
### Example:
Let's divide 4.2 by 1.5.
1. **Setup for long division:**
```
_____
1.5 | 4.2
```
2. **Move the decimal point in the divisor:**
Change 1.5 to 15 (which is moving the decimal point one place to the right).
3. **Move the decimal in the dividend:**
Change 4.2 to 42 (also moving the decimal point one place to the right).
4. **Now your division looks like this:**
```
_____
15 | 42
```
5. **Divide:**
- 15 goes into 42 two times (15 × 2 = 30).
- Subtract 30 from 42, which gives you 12.
- Bring down a zero (if needed) to make it 120.
- 15 goes into 120 eight times (15 × 8 = 120).
- There is no remainder.
So the result of \(4.2 \div 1.5\) is \(2.8\).
### Final Answer:
\(4.2 \div 1.5 = 2.8\)
That's how you divide decimals straight down!
1. **Align the numbers:** Write the divisor (the number you are dividing by) outside the long division symbol and the dividend (the number being divided) inside.
2. **Move the decimal point:** If the divisor (the number you are dividing by) is a decimal, move the decimal point to the right until it becomes a whole number. Count how many places you moved the decimal.
3. **Move the decimal in the dividend:** Move the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places to the right. If necessary, add zeros to the right of the dividend.
4. **Perform the division:** Now, divide as you typically would, ignoring the decimal points for the moment.
5. **Place the decimal point:** Once you have completed the division, place the decimal point in the quotient (the answer) directly above where the decimal point is in the adjusted dividend.
6. **Continue dividing:** If there are more numbers to bring down, continue the division process. Keep your decimal point in the quotient aligned with the rest.
### Example:
Let's divide 4.2 by 1.5.
1. **Setup for long division:**
```
_____
1.5 | 4.2
```
2. **Move the decimal point in the divisor:**
Change 1.5 to 15 (which is moving the decimal point one place to the right).
3. **Move the decimal in the dividend:**
Change 4.2 to 42 (also moving the decimal point one place to the right).
4. **Now your division looks like this:**
```
_____
15 | 42
```
5. **Divide:**
- 15 goes into 42 two times (15 × 2 = 30).
- Subtract 30 from 42, which gives you 12.
- Bring down a zero (if needed) to make it 120.
- 15 goes into 120 eight times (15 × 8 = 120).
- There is no remainder.
So the result of \(4.2 \div 1.5\) is \(2.8\).
### Final Answer:
\(4.2 \div 1.5 = 2.8\)
That's how you divide decimals straight down!