Arithmetic Grade Five

Lesson Seventy-three: Decimal Division

Consider this problem: 

	    +------
	  5 | 3.6
When we try to solve it we might do something like this and then just stop (without actually figuring out the correct answer). 

               .7
	    +------
	  5 | 3.6
	      3 5
	     ------
		1
It doesn't make sense to have remainders with decimals and so we must figure out a way to complete this problem!

It just so happens that 3.6 equals 3.60 which equals 3.600 which equals 3.6000. In other words we can add zeroes onto the right hand side of a number with a decimal point in it and not change the value. This allows us to alter the dividend slightly (without actually changing its value). 


               .72
	    +------
	  5 | 3.60
	      3 5
	     ------
		10
		10
	      ------
		 0
Here's another quick example: 

               .8
	    +------
	  5 | 4.2
	      4 0
	     ------
		2
BUT WAIT! We can add a zero to the end of the dividend: 

               .82
	    +------
	  5 | 4.20
	      4 0
	     ------
		20
		20
	     -------
		 0

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