Decimal Division Game

Decimal Division Game
This game is designed to help you master the two-part process of dividing decimals: shifting the divisor and calculating the quotient. Scroll down the page for a more detailed explanation.
 

 

How to Play the Decimal Division Game
Step 1: Shift the Decimals
In decimal division, the hardest part is dividing by a “piece” of a number. We fix this by turning the divisor (the number on the right) into a whole number.
Identify the Divisor: Look at the number to the right of the division symbol (÷).
Slide the Dot: Click the Slide Dot Right ➡️ button. Each click moves the red decimal point one space to the right in both numbers.
The Goal: Keep sliding until the red dot is at the very end of the divisor.
Example: If the problem is 1.25 ÷ 0.5, you slide once to get 12.5 ÷ 5.
Confirm: Once the divisor is a whole number, click Confirm Shift.

Step 2: Solve the Problem
Now that you are dividing by a whole number, the math becomes much simpler.
Perform the Division: Divide the numbers as you normally would.
Place the Decimal: Remember the “Golden Rule” of division: The decimal in the answer (the quotient) sits directly above the new decimal in the dividend.
If your shifted problem is 12.5 ÷ 5, your answer is 2.5.
Type Your Answer: Enter the final result (including the decimal point if needed) into the input box.
Check: Click Check Answer to see if you’re right.

Quick Tips for Success
The Equal Shift: The game won’t let you slide the dots separately. This is because in math, you must multiply both sides by the same power of 10 (10, 100, 1000) to keep the problem balanced.
Leading Zeros: If you slide a dot and a number looks like 05, the game handles it as 5.
Reset: If you slide too far or get confused during Step 1, hit the Reset button to start the shift over.

Why does this work?
In mathematics, a division problem like 1.25 ÷ 0.5 is exactly the same as the fraction:
\(\frac{1.25}{0.5}\)
To get rid of the decimal in the divisor (0.5), you need to multiply it by 10. But to keep the value of the fraction the same, you have to multiply the top by 10 as well. This is the same as multiplying the whole fraction by \(\frac{10}{10}\) (= 1).
\(\frac{1.25 \times 10}{0.5 \times 10} = \frac{12.5}{5}\)
Multiplying a number by 10 is the mathematical operation that physically moves a decimal point one slot to the right.

The video gives a clear, step-by-step approach to learn decimal division.

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Try out our new and fun Fraction Concoction Game.

Add and subtract fractions to make exciting fraction concoctions following a recipe. There are four levels of difficulty: Easy, medium, hard and insane. Practice the basics of fraction addition and subtraction or challenge yourself with the insane level.

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