# A very simple question

• Jan 23rd 2007, 01:11 PM
greenwood
A very simple question
Hi i know this sounds dumb but i have been messing around with division and i know how to do short and long division but when i divide (38 by 8 i get 4 remainder 6) which is simple but when done on a calculator the answer is 4.75, i know the 4 is correct but where does the .75 come from.

• Jan 23rd 2007, 01:15 PM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by greenwood
Hi i know this sounds dumb but i have been messing around with division and i know how to do short and long division but when i divide (38 by 8 i get 4 remainder 6) which is simple but when done one on a calculator the answer is 4.75, i know the 4 is correct but where does the .75 come from.

$4.75$ is the decimal representation of $4\frac{3}{4}$

Now you have $38/8=4$ remainder $6$, or $4 \frac{6}{8}$ but $\frac{6}{8}=\frac{3}{4}$ so we have:

$\frac{38}{8}=4\frac{3}{4}=4.75$

RonL
• Jan 23rd 2007, 01:22 PM
greenwood
What is [LaTeX Error: Couldn't copy temporary file]
• Jan 23rd 2007, 01:23 PM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by greenwood
What is [LaTeX Error: Couldn't copy temporary file]

You don't really want to know, but look again its OK now.

RonL