Back to Module 4
How to Divide Decimal Numbers
If you are dividing by a whole number (your divisor does not have a decimal point):
8.48
25 3.75
Example:
or
(rewrite this like: 4 8.48 )
4
Step 1: Place the decimal point for the answer directly above the decimal point in the
dividend.
25 3.75
Step 2: Divide as you normally would.
.15
25 3.75
25
125
125
0
If your divisor contains a decimal point: Example: 120
. 101248
.
Step 1 : Move the decimal point in the divisor so that it is now a whole number—Count how
many places you had to move it – in the above example I moved it 2 places.
120 101248
.
Step 2: Now move the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places as in step 1 (
in this case 2 places)
120 101248
Step 3: Now put a decimal point in the answer (quotient) exactly above the place it is now in
the dividend.
120 10124.8
Step 4: Divide as you normally would. If you are rounding to the nearest hundredth place
additional zeros after the decimal point to the thousandths place:
94.373
120 10124.800
960
524
480
448
360
880
840
400
360
stop here because you are ready to round your answer
The rounded answer is 94.37