Dividing Decimals “Swingin’ Monkeys”

Swinging Monkeys! Follow these steps and you will be great at dividing decimals! Remember: Whatever the OUTSIDE number does – the INSIDE number does also! Monkey See; Monkey Do!

Division Vocabulary “Roof” Quotient “Outside” Divisor “Inside” Dividend

Division Vocabulary 12.64 ÷ .2 12.64 divided by .2

Steps in Dividing Decimals Make the divisor (outside number) a whole number by moving (swingin’) the decimal to the right as many places as it takes to make it a WHOLE NUMBER.

Swingin’ Monkeys Divisor Moved (swung) the decimal point 1 place to the right Swingin’ Monkey

Steps in Dividing Decimals 2. Move (swing) the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places as the divisor. Dividend Moved (swung) the decimal point 1 place to the right

Steps in Dividing Decimals – Swingin’ Monkeys

Steps in Dividing Decimals – Swingin’ Monkeys 3. Place (swing) the decimal point in the answer (quotient) lined up with the decimal point in the dividend (on the roof).

Steps in Dividing Decimals 4. Divide the numbers. Make sure the decimal point stays lined up. 6 3 2 12 6 6 4

What is actually happening . . . When you move the decimal one place to the right to create a WHOLE number – you are actually multiplying it by 10! When you move the decimal two places to the right to create a WHOLE number – you are actually multiplying it by 100! Move the three times- you are actually multiplying it by 1000!

What happens if we have a decimal in the divisor and not the dividend? 2.14 ) 797

Just remember, the dividend is a whole number so there is a decimal at the end of the dividend that is not there. 2.14 ) 797 The decimal would go here since the number is whole. But you would still have to move it two places to the right. Don’t forget to add the zeros. Is really… 2.14 ) 797.

So this 2.14 ) 797 Becomes this 214 ) 79700 Divide to get 372.4299