Use written division methods in cases where the answer has up to two decimal places; divide decimals to hundredths by whole numbers
You already know a remainder can become a fraction of what you are measuring, like 17 ÷ 4 = 4 remainder 1. When you share money, that leftover still has to be shared. Add a decimal point and a zero after the number, then keep dividing to turn the remainder into a decimal.
Divide 17 by 4. First, 4 goes into 17 four times (4 × 4 = 16), leaving 1. Put a decimal point after the 17, then add a zero to make 10. Divide 10 by 4: it goes in 2 times (2 × 4 = 8), leaving 2. Add another zero to make 20. Divide 20 by 4: it goes in exactly 5 times. The answer is 4.25.
You can also divide a decimal number by a whole number. Take 14.76 ÷ 4. Divide as usual, but keep the decimal point in your answer lined up with the decimal point in 14.76. 4 goes into 14 three times, remainder 2. Bring down the 7 to make 27; 4 goes into 27 six times, remainder 3. Bring down the 6 to make 36; 4 goes into 36 nine times exactly. The answer is 3.69.
Line up the decimal point in your answer directly under the decimal point in the number you are dividing. If you run out of digits, add a zero and keep dividing.
To divide into a decimal, keep dividing past the remainder: add zeros and line up the decimal point.
Decimal division continues past the point. To compute 14.76 divided by 4, divide as usual and keep the decimal point lined up in the quotient. The answer is 3.69. Checking with multiplication proves it: 3.69 times 4 = 14.76. The point in the quotient always sits directly above its place in the dividend.
Money problems are decimal divisions in disguise. Sharing 18.60 pounds among 5 people means 18.60 / 5 = 3.72 each. Dividing 10.50 by 3 gives 3.50. Keep two decimal places for pence throughout. Real contexts punish dropped digits, so write every step and check by multiplying back.
Continuing division past whole numbers unlocks decimal quotients. Dividing 7 by 4 gives 1 remainder 3, then 30 tenths / 4 = 7 tenths remainder 2, then 20 hundredths / 4 = 5 hundredths: 1.75. Each extra digit needs one more bring down. Long division never truly stops; you stop it when the remainder hits zero.
Saturday morning at the Meadow Lane stall. Last week you priced the harvest by shifting digits: £2.35 for one jar of jam, £23.50 for a shelf of ten. Today the plums are sold by weight. The sack on the table holds 4 kg and it cost Leo £17.
Mia needs the price of one kilogram for the chalkboard. Which calculation gives it?
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