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Lesson 11A - Division of Decimals

The document explains how to divide a decimal number, specifically 37.5 by 1.25, by estimating the answer and adjusting the numbers for easier calculation. It demonstrates the process of multiplying both the dividend and divisor by 10 to eliminate the decimal, allowing for standard division methods. The final calculation shows the division resulting in 30.

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jessica
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2 views

Lesson 11A - Division of Decimals

The document explains how to divide a decimal number, specifically 37.5 by 1.25, by estimating the answer and adjusting the numbers for easier calculation. It demonstrates the process of multiplying both the dividend and divisor by 10 to eliminate the decimal, allowing for standard division methods. The final calculation shows the division resulting in 30.

Uploaded by

jessica
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dividing by a

Decimal Number

FN Vatileni
UNAM HP Campus
2000
Dividing by a
Decimal Number

The strange story of:


37.5  1.25
FIRST…
Come up with a QUICK ESTIMATE…

37.5  1.25 looks like it will be close to


37  1, which would equal just 37.

SO… we will be looking for an answer


around 37 and REJECT an answer of
300-something or 3-something.
37.5  1.25

125 375
To solve this problem using the “paper and pencil”
procedure, we would set it up like THIS.

BUT… the regular division procedure


does not work comfortably with decimal
divisors… what can we do ?
37.5  1.25
Take note that 375 ÷12.5 will give the same answer as 37.5  1.25

since we multiplied BOTH Dividend and Divisor by 10.

125 375

…and we can do this multiplication by moving the


decimal point one place to the right !
and 375  12.5
will give the same answer as 3750  125

…since we multiplied BOTH Dividend and Divisor by 10 again.

125 3750

…and we can do this multiplication by


moving the decimal point one more place to the right !
and annexing a zero in the ones place.
and 3750  125
we can solve in the usual way

30
125 3750
-375
0

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