If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

Main content

5th grade

Course: 5th grade > Unit 9

Lesson 4: Divide whole numbers by decimals
Math
5th grade
Divide decimals
Divide whole numbers by decimals
© 2023 Khan AcademyTerms of usePrivacy PolicyCookie Notice

Divide decimals: FAQ

Google Classroom
Frequently asked questions about dividing decimals.

Why is it important to know how to estimate when dividing decimals?

Estimating can be helpful for a few reasons. First, it can give us a rough idea of what the quotient should be, which can help catch mistakes. Additionally, when we estimate, we can get a rough idea of what the answer will be before we actually divide. This can help us check our work later on.
Try it yourself with this exercise:

How do we divide whole numbers to get a decimal?

When we divide one whole number by another, we're trying to break the first number into equal-sized chunks. Sometimes, the first number can be broken up evenly into those chunks - for example, 12, divided by, 4, equals, 3 , because we can break 12 into four chunks of three each.
But other times, the first number can't be divided evenly by the second. For example, if we divide 11 by 4, we can only divide it into two chunks of four, with three left over. We can express this as a mixed number (2, start fraction, 3, divided by, 4, end fraction) or as a decimal (2, point, 75). The decimal represents the part of the chunk that we couldn't divide evenly.
Try it yourself with these exercises:

Why is it helpful to understand how to divide whole numbers by 0, point, 1 and 0, point, 01?

There are a few potential reasons why it might be helpful to understand how to divide whole numbers by 0, point, 1 and 0, point, 01. In general, it is helpful to understand how to perform various types of calculations with numbers, so that you can be flexible and confident when faced with different math problems.
Dividing by 0, point, 1 and 0, point, 01 specifically can come up in a variety of contexts. For example, if you want to convert a whole number of cents into dollars, you would divide by 100 (or 0, point, 01).
Understanding how to divide by 0, point, 1 and 0, point, 01 can also help you understand the concept of place value and how decimal points function. For example, dividing by 0, point, 1 will shift the decimal point one place to the left, while dividing by 0, point, 01 will shift the decimal point two places to the left.
Try it yourself with this exercise:

How do we divide decimals by whole numbers visually?

We can use models or drawings to help us understand the concept of dividing decimals by whole numbers. For example, we can divide a bar into equal sections to see what each part is worth.
Try it yourself with these exercises:

Why do we need to know how to divide decimals?

There are many real-world applications for dividing decimals. For example, when we want to split a bill evenly among a group of people, we might need to divide a decimal by a whole number. Or, when we want to convert from one unit of measurement to another, we might need to divide by a decimal.

Want to join the conversation?

Log in