Dividing Decimals
Shift the point in both numbers until the divisor is whole, then divide.
Key idea
Shift the point in both numbers until the divisor is whole, then divide.
In depth
Make the divisor a whole number by shifting the decimal point in both numbers the same number of places. This keeps the quotient the same, then divide normally.
Worked example
4.5 ÷ 0.15 = 450 ÷ 15 = 30.
Real-world uses
- Working out price per litre or cost per gram
- Splitting bills and dividing rainfall totals
Common mistake
Moving the point in only one of the numbers.
How to learn this
- Read the key idea and say it in your own words.
- Work through the worked example, then try a similar problem.
- Use the interactive lesson’s visual and mini-quiz to check the pattern.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dividing Decimals?
Shift the point in both numbers until the divisor is whole, then divide. It is a topic at the intermediate level in Arithmetic & Number Sense.
Where is Dividing Decimals used in real life?
Real-world examples: Working out price per litre or cost per gram; Splitting bills and dividing rainfall totals.
What should I learn before Dividing Decimals?
Make sure you are comfortable with Multiplying Decimals, the previous topic in Arithmetic & Number Sense.
What is a common mistake with Dividing Decimals?
Moving the point in only one of the numbers.
How can I practise Dividing Decimals?
Open the interactive lesson, play with the visual, then answer the three-question mini-quiz. Getting two right marks the topic complete.
What comes after Dividing Decimals?
Move on to Fractions to Decimals next.
Related intermediate topics in Arithmetic & Number Sense
- Long Multiplication – Multiply by each digit of the multiplier, shift by place value, then add partial products.
- Long Division – Divide, multiply, subtract and bring down repeatedly to get the quotient.
- Factors and Multiples – Factors divide a number exactly; multiples are its products with whole numbers.
- Divisibility Rules – Quick tests: by 2 last digit even, by 3 digit-sum divisible by 3, by 5 ends 0/5, by 9 digit-sum divisible by 9.
- Prime Numbers – A prime has exactly two positive divisors: 1 and itself.
- Composite Numbers – Numbers greater than 1 with more than two factors.