# Thread: dividing by decimals

1. ## dividing by decimals

Can you please show me how to work out 2.4 divided by 3.2

2. $2.4 \div 3.2$

Move the decimal 1 times: from 3.2 to 32. and from 2.4 to 24.
..........__0.75_______
= 32. | 24.00
..........-224
..........____
..............160
.............-160
..............___
................0
Since 240 - 224 = 16
Carry down 0 to get 160... divide it by 32 then you get 5 then multiply by 32 you get 160 so 160 - 160 = 0

3. Originally Posted by chubbs
Can you please show me how to work out 2.4 divided by 3.2
Sure, no problem.

One way is by cancellation or factoring.
2.4 / 3.2
= (0.8)*3 / (0.8)*4
The 0.8's cancel each other, so,
= 3/4
= 0.75 -------------answer.

Another way is by long division, or "by hand",
I cannot show that here because I don't know how to "draw" in computers. But you can do it by hand there with you.
You move the decimal places to one place to the right, so your new division now is 24 divided by 32. You should get 0.75 as the answer.

-----------------
Or, if you don't know how to factor, you keep on dividing both numerator and denominator by 2 until you cannot anymore. Like so,
2.4 / 3.2
= 1.2 / 1.6
= 0.6 / 0.8
= 0.3 / 0.4
= 3/4
= 0.75