Dividing Decimals

Division of Decimals by Decimals

The procedure for the division of decimals is very similar to the division of whole numbers. Make the divisor into a whole number by multiplying both it and the dividend by the same number (such as 10, 100, 1000 etc.). An easy way to do this is to move the decimal point to the right end of the divisor and move the decimal point of the dividend the same number of places.

Dividing a four digit decimal number by a two digit decimal number (for example 0.4138 ÷ 0.17) with paper and pencil involves several steps.

• Place the divisor before the division bracket and place the dividend (4138) under it.

           
0.17)0.4138

• Multiply both the divisor and dividend by 100 so that the divisor is not a decimal but a whole number. In other words move the decimal point two places to the right in both the divisor and dividend

        
17)41.38

• Proceed with the division as you normally would except put the decimal point in the answer or quotient exactly above where it occurs in the dividend. For example:

    2.43 remainder 7
17)41.38