Dividing a Decimal by another Decimal

In this lesson, we will look at dividing a decimal number by another decimal number.

 
How to Divide Decimals?

When one decimal number is divided by another decimal number,

Step 1: Change the divisor to a whole number by moving the decimal point to the right until after the last digit.

Step 2: The decimal point of the dividend must also be moved by the same number of decimal places.

Step 3: Perform the division in the same way as dividing by a whole number. Place the decimal point of the quotient (answer) directly above the decimal point of the dividend.

The following diagram shows how to divide a decimal by a decimal. Scroll down the page for more examples and solutions.

Example:

Evaluate 5.421 ÷ 0.03

Solution:

The divisor, 0.03, is moved 2 decimal places to form the whole number 3. The dividend, 5.421, is then also moved 2 decimal places to form 542.1. We then perform the division as shown:

The following videos show how to divide a decimal number by another decimal number.

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