Divide by whole numbers and convert decimal divisors into whole numbers.
Dividend ÷ divisor = quotient
In 7.926 ÷ 6, 7.926 is the dividend, 6 is the divisor, and the answer is the quotient.
Example 1 · Decimal divided by a whole number
7.926 ÷ 6
7 ÷ 6 gives 1, with remainder 1.
Put the decimal point in the quotient directly above the decimal point in the dividend.
Bring down 9: 19 ÷ 6 gives 3, remainder 1.
Bring down 2: 12 ÷ 6 gives 2, remainder 0.
Bring down 6: 6 ÷ 6 gives 1.
Answer: 1.321. Check: 1.321 × 6 = 7.926.
Example 2 · A whole number divided by a decimal
3 ÷ 0.75
Multiply 0.75 by 100 to make 75.
Multiply 3 by the same 100 to make 300.
300 ÷ 75 = 4.
Answer: 4. There are four groups of 0.75 in 3.
Example 3 · Zeros can help
0.81 ÷ 9 = 0.09. Think: 81 hundredths shared among 9 groups gives 9 hundredths per group.
For 27.9 ÷ 3, write 27.90 if needed. Adding zeros to the right of the decimal does not change the value.
Check the size: Dividing by a number greater than 1 makes a positive number smaller. Dividing by a positive number less than 1 makes it larger. Never divide by zero.