Dividing Decimals Made Easy
Dividing with decimals might seem tricky at first, but once you know the steps, it's as easy as pie!
The key is to make the divisor a whole number by moving the decimal point. Remember: whatever you do to the divisor, you must do to the dividend too!
3 Simple Steps to Success
1️⃣ Move the decimal in the divisor to make it a whole number
2️⃣ Move the decimal in the dividend the same number of places
3️⃣ Divide like normal and place the decimal in your answer
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: Sharing Cookies Equally
You have 3.6 cookies and want to share them equally among 4 friends. How much cookie does each friend get?
1. Write as division: 3.6 ÷ 4
2. Since 4 is already a whole number, we can divide directly
3. 3.6 ÷ 4 = 0.9
Answer: Each friend gets 0.9 of a cookie!
Example 2: Dividing Money
You have $12.50 and want to divide it equally among 2.5 people. How much does each person get?
1. Write as division: 12.50 ÷ 2.5
2. Move decimal in divisor (2.5 → 25) and dividend (12.50 → 125.0)
3. Now divide: 125 ÷ 25 = 5
Answer: Each person gets $5.00!
Parent Tips 🌟
- Use real money to practice decimal division - kids love handling coins and bills!
- Create word problems about things your child enjoys (pizza slices, video game time, etc.).
- Check answers with multiplication - the quotient multiplied by the divisor should equal the dividend.