Dividing Decimals Word Problems
Concept
Dividing with decimals works exactly like regular long division, with just one difference. When the dividend is a decimal number, put a decimal point right above the decimal in the answer section too.
Rules
When dividing a multi-digit dividend by a 1 or 2-digit divisor:
1. Place the divisor to the left of the dividend.
2. First, divide the first 2 digits of the dividend by the divisor. To do this, find a multiple of the divisor that is close to, by not greater than, the number.
3. Subtract the multiple from the 2-digit number and write the difference below it.
4. Bring down the third digit of the dividend and place it next to the difference, making a new 2-digit number.
5. Divide this new 2-digit number by the divisor. To do this, find a multiple of the divisor that is close to, by not greater than, the number.
6. The difference may be 0, or there may be a remainder.
Example
Scott had 48.25 kg of flour to divide evenly into 15 jars. How many kilograms did he put into each jar? Round the quotient to the nearest hundredths.
Solution
Scott put 3.22 kilograms of flour into each jar.
Practice Dividing Decimals Word Problems
Practice Problem 1
Greg spent 51.20 dollars on 16 kilograms of grain. How much did he pay per kilogram?
Practice Problem 2
School lunches cost 85.75 dollars for seven weeks. How much would the lunches cost per week?
Practice Problem 3
A bottle of medicine contains 46.2 milliliters. There are 28 doses in the bottle. How many milliliters are in each dose?
Practice Problem 4
Ryan has 5.75 kilograms of coffee in 23 bags. How many kilograms of coffee is in each bag?
Dividend – The number being divided.
Divisor – The number the dividend is being divided by.
Quotient – The answer to a division problem. In this case, a whole number.
Remainder – Sometimes a division problem doesn’t work out to a whole number. A number that is remaining is called the remainder.
Pre-requisite Skills
Divide by 1 Digit Number
Divide by 2 Digit Number