Math · Decimals

Dividing Decimals

Dividing by a whole number is nothing new — the decimal point just comes along for the ride. Dividing by a decimal takes one extra trick: moving both decimal points before you divide.

Part 01

Dividing by a Whole Number

When the number you're dividing by (the divisor) is already a whole number, division works exactly like you'd expect — just keep the decimal point in the quotient (the answer) directly above the decimal point in the number you're dividing.

The point in the quotient (green) sits directly above the point in 6.4

6 ÷ 4 = 1 remainder 2. Bring down the 4 to make 24, and 24 ÷ 4 = 6. The decimal point in the answer sits directly above the one in 6.4 — no moving, no counting, just carry it straight across.

Part 02

Dividing by a Decimal — Move the Point

Dividing by a decimal (like 1.2) is trickier, so we turn it into a problem we already know how to solve: move the divisor's decimal point to the right until it becomes a whole number, and move the dividend's decimal point the same number of places. This doesn't change the answer — you're just multiplying both numbers by the same power of 10.

Divisor — move right until it's whole
Dividend — move right the same number of places
Original problem1.44 ÷ 1.2
Rewritten problem14.4 ÷ 12
Same rule as Part 01 — the point in the quotient sits directly above the point in 14.4

Not enough digits? Add a zero 🔢

Try 0.6 ÷ 0.03. The divisor 0.03 needs 2 places to become whole (3), so the dividend 0.6 needs to move 2 places too — but it only has 1 digit after the point. Add a zero to make room:

Divisor
Dividend — needs a zero to reach 2 places
Original problem0.6 ÷ 0.03
Rewritten problem60 ÷ 3
60 ÷ 3 is a whole number, so there's no point to place at all
Your Turn!

Practice

Work through each problem in two stages: first figure out how many places to move the decimal point, then move the dividend's point to rewrite the problem.

Practice — Dividing

Rewrite the problem so the divisor is a whole number

Here's the division problem.

Stage 1 — Count the places
place(s) to the right
Stage 2 — Move the dividend's point