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Course: 6th grade > Unit 2
Lesson 8: Dividing decimals- Dividing whole numbers to get a decimal
- Dividing whole numbers like 56÷35 to get a decimal
- Dividing a decimal by a whole number
- Dividing a whole number by a decimal
- Dividing decimals with hundredths
- Dividing decimals completely
- Long division with decimals
- Dividing decimals: hundredths
- Dividing by a multi-digit decimal
- Dividing decimals: thousandths
- Arithmetic with rational numbers FAQ
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Arithmetic with rational numbers FAQ
Frequently asked questions about arithmetic with rational numbers
Why do we need to line up the decimal points when we add or subtract decimals?
When we add or subtract decimals, we need to line up the decimal points to make sure we are adding or subtracting the same place values. For example, if we want to add and , we need to write them like this:
Notice how the decimal point is in the same column for both numbers. This helps us see that we are adding tenths to tenths, and ones to ones. If we don't line up the decimal points, we might get confused and add the wrong digits. For example, if we write them like this:
We might think that we are adding tenths to tenths, and ones to ones, which would give us the wrong answer of . So, lining up the decimal points helps us avoid mistakes and add or subtract decimals correctly.
How do we divide whole numbers to get a decimal?
Sometimes, when we divide whole numbers, we get a remainder that is not zero. For example, if we divide by , we get as the quotient and as the remainder. We write it like this:
But what if we want to know the exact answer, without a remainder? We can use decimals to show the part of the dividend that is left over after dividing by the divisor. We do this by adding a decimal point and a zero to the dividend, and continuing to divide using place value. For example, we can write as like this:
Now we can divide the by the , and get (think tenths divided by is tenths). So in all, we got a quotient of , which equals . We write it like this:
We can do this with any whole number division that has a remainder. For example, if we divide by , we get as the quotient and as the remainder. We write it like this:
To get the exact answer, we add a decimal point and two zeros to the dividend. We write it like this:
Now we can divide the by the , and get (think hundredths divided by is hundredths). So in all, we got a quotient of , which equals . We write it like this:
How do we divide decimals by decimals?
To divide decimals by decimals, we need to make the divisor a whole number first. We do this by moving the decimal point in both the divisor and the dividend the same number of times to the right, until the divisor has no decimal point. This works because we are creating equivalent fractions.
For example, if we want to divide by , we move the decimal point one time to the right in both numbers, and get . We write it like this:
Then we can divide as usual, and get as the answer. We write it like this:
Another example is . We move the decimal point two times to the right in both numbers, and get . We write it like this:
Then we can divide as usual, and get as the answer. We write it like this:
What is a reciprocal?
The reciprocal of a number answers the question, "How many groups of that number are in 1?"
Let's start with some basic numbers. How many groups of are in ? There are groups of in , so (or ) is the reciprocal of .
How many groups of are in ? There are no whole groups of in , but there is a partial group of in . Specifically, there is of a group of in the number .
Here are some of the ways this pair of reciprocal values relates.
This pattern is true for all pairs of reciprocal numbers. Their product is always .
Let's use that fact to find the reciprocal of .
So the reciprocal of is and vice versa.
Notice a pattern? If we write a number in fraction form, then its reciprocal is a fraction with the numerator and the denominator flipped.
Why do we divide fractions by multiplying by the reciprocal of the second fraction?
We often think of division as telling us how many groups of equal size we can make out of the total.
Suppose we want to know .
The reciprocal of a number answers the question, "How many groups of that number are in 1?" So the value of will be the reciprocal of , which .
Instead, we want to know , which is times as much. So the quotient will also be times as much as .
Thus, has the same value as .
When do we perform operations on rational numbers in real life?
There are many situations in real life where we might need to perform operations on fractions and decimals. For example, when we're cooking, we might need to multiply or divide fractions when measuring ingredients. If a recipe calls for of a cup of flour, but we only have a cup measure, we would need to divide to know how many times to fill the measure to get the right amount.
We also encounter decimals when we're dealing with money. We might need to add or subtract amounts to calculate a total bill or to make change. For example, if we're buying two items that cost and , we need to add to get a total of .
There are countless other situations where we might use fractions or decimals in everyday life – when we're cutting things into portions, calculating percentages, or dealing with measurements, just to name a few.
Want to join the conversation?
- How do we divide a fraction without the same denominator?(8 votes)
- To divide fractions with unlike denominators, we turn the division problem into a multiplication problem by multiplying the numerator of the division problem by the reciprocal of the denominator of the division problem, then we simplify. Hope this helps!(28 votes)
- why we got all these assignments(12 votes)
- cause thayts how khan and school works(10 votes)
- i know you can’t do this while typing but you can draw a line over the three if you want. you can draw a line over the three because it repeats, and you can do this with any other division problem that has repeating numbers and can go on forever. i'd say that this may be pretty useful when converting fractions to decimals in the future. just saying this just to let you know and so that you don’t have to continuously write a number like 3 or 63. :)(13 votes)
- you could put a slash(1 vote)
- this lesson was very annoying, the steps in this lesson was unlike what i learned at school, so it would take me like 10 minutes to do 4 questions(3 votes)
- As long as you learning it does not matter how long it takes you(8 votes)
- yooooooo how you doing(7 votes)
- why isn't a video to tell you what a rational number is?(6 votes)
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Tomato soup man(4 votes)- 👒
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Tomato soup woman(3 votes)
- So you can make a decimal(5 votes)
- or a calculator to help you(5 votes)
- how do you multipy desimals?(4 votes)