Dividing Decimals

EXAMPLE 5.19

	$0.12 \div 3$
Write as long division, placing the decimal point in the quotient above the decimal point in the dividend.
Divide as usual. Since 3 does not go into 0 or 1 we use zeros as placeholders.
	$0.12 \div 3 = 0.04$

EXAMPLE 5.20

	$\$ 3.99 \div 24$
Place the decimal point in the quotient above the decimal point in the dividend.
Divide as usual. When do we stop? Since this division involves money, we round it to the nearest cent (hundredth). To do this, we must carry the division to the thousandths place.
Round to the nearest cent.	$\$ 0.166 \approx \$ 0.17$
	$\$ 3.99 \div 24 \approx \$ 0.17$

This means the price per bottle is $17$ cents.

EXAMPLE 5.21

Determine the sign of the quotient.	The quotient will be negative.
Make the divisor the whole number by 'moving' the decimal point all the way to the right. 'Move' the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places to the right.
Divide. Place the decimal point in the quotient above the decimal point in the dividend. Add zeros as needed until the remainder is zero.
Write the quotient with the appropriate sign.	$-2.89 \div(3.4)=-0.85$

EXAMPLE 5.22

	$-25.65 \div(-0.06)$
The signs are the same.	The quotient is positive.
Make the divisor a whole number by 'moving' the decimal point all the way to the right. 'Move' the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places.
Divide. Place the decimal point in the quotient above the decimal point in the dividend.
Write the quotient with the appropriate sign.	$-25.65 \div(-0.06)=427.5$

Example 5.23

	$4 \div 0.05$
The signs are the same.	The quotient is positive.
Make the divisor a whole number by 'moving' the decimal point all the way to the right. Move the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places, adding zeros as needed.
Divide. Place the decimal point in the quotient above the decimal point in the dividend.
Write the quotient with the appropriate sign.	$4 \div 0.05=80$

We can relate this example to money. How many nickels are there in four dollars? Because $4 \div 0.05=80$, there are 80 nickels in $\$ 4$.

TRY IT 5.37

$0.07$

TRY IT 5.38

$0.08$

TRY IT 5.39

$\$ 0.19$

TRY IT 5.40

$\$ 0.42$

TRY IT 5.41

$-0.39$

TRY IT 5.42

$-0.4$

TRY IT 5.43

$587.3$

TRY IT 5.44

$34.25$

TRY IT 5.45

$200$

TRY IT 5.46

$350$