Dividing a whole number by a decimal may seem tricky at first, but it’s quite straightforward once you understand the process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Understand the Problem
Let’s say you want to divide 8 by 0.4. The goal is to find out how many times 0.4 can fit into 8.
Step 2: Eliminate the Decimal
To make division easier, you can eliminate the decimal by converting the decimal number into a whole number. You can do this by multiplying both the divisor (the decimal) and the dividend (the whole number) by the same power of ten. For example, if you multiply both by 10, the problem changes as follows:
8 ÷ 0.4 becomes 80 ÷ 4.
Step 3: Perform the Division
Now, you can simply divide:
- 80 ÷ 4 = 20
Step 4: Conclusion
So, 8 ÷ 0.4 = 20. This means that 0.4 fits into 8 a total of 20 times.
In summary, when dividing a whole number by a decimal, you can simplify the problem by multiplying both numbers to eliminate the decimal, making the division straightforward. This technique can be applied to any similar calculation, allowing for easier and more efficient arithmetic.