Long Division to Decimal Places
http://www.mathsisfun.com/long_division3.html 8.17.2011

When we are given a long division to do it will not always work out to a whole number. Sometimes there will be numbers left over. We can use the long division process to work out the answer to a number of decimal places.

The secret to working out a long division to decimal places is the ability to add zeros after the decimal point.

Example: 150 is the same as 150.00

We can add as many zeros as we wish after the decimal point without altering the numbers value.

We will use the example below. It works out neatly to one decimal place

435 ÷ 25

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide15.gif

4 ÷ 25 = 0 remainder 4

The first number of the dividend is divided by the divisor.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide16.gif

 

The whole number result is placed at the top. Any remainders are ignored at this point.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide17.gif

25 × 0 = 0

The answer from the first operation is multiplied by the divisor. The result is placed under the number divided into.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide18.gif

4 – 0 = 4

Now we take away the bottom number from the top number.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide19.gif

 

Bring down the next number of the dividend.

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43 ÷ 25 = 1 remainder 18

Divide this number by the divisor.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide21.gif

 

The whole number result is placed at the top. Any remainders are ignored at this point.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide22.gif

25 × 1 = 25

The answer from the above operation is multiplied by the divisor. The result is placed under the last number divided into.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide23.gif

43 – 25 = 18

Now we take away the bottom number from the top number.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide24.gif

 

Bring down the next number of the dividend.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide25.gif

185 ÷ 25 = 7 remainder 10

Divide this number by the divisor.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide26.gif

 

The whole number result is placed at the top. Any remainders are ignored at this point.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide27.gif

25 × 7 = 175

The answer from the above operation is multiplied by the divisor. The result is placed under the number divided into.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide28.gif

185 – 175 = 10

Now we take away the bottom number from the top number.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide30.gif

 

Now we have reached the end of the whole numbers we add a decimal place and the first zero. Notice the decimal point which has appeared on the answer line and by the dividend. It does not appear anywhere else.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide31.gif

 

Bring down the next number of the dividend.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide32.gif

100 ÷ 25 = 4 remainder 0

Divide this number by the divisor.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide33.gif

 

The whole number result is placed at the top. Any remainders are ignored at this point.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide34.gif

25 × 4 = 100

The answer from the above operation is multiplied by the divisor. The result is placed under the number divided into.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide35.gif

100 – 100 = 0

Now we take away the bottom number from the top number.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/images/divide36.gif

 

The subtraction has given zero. We stop when this happens. The answer will be 17.4  As long as the subtraction gives a number above zero the long division can carry on to as many decimal places as we wish.

 

Answer: 435 ÷ 25 = 17.4