What are Whole Numbers ?Whole numbers are the set of positive integers.

They do not have any decimal or fractional part. Natural numbers along
with zero(0) are whole numbers.
What is Zero ?
Zero is the only whole number which is not a natural number.
NATURAL NUMBER
A natural number is a number that occurs commonly and
obviously in nature. As such, it is a whole, non-negative number.
The set of natural numbers, denoted N, can be defined in either of
two ways:
N = {0, 1, 2, 3, ...}

N = (1, 2, 3, 4, ...}

Algebraic properties satisfied by the natural numbers

The addition (+) and multiplication () operations on natural numbers as defined above
have several algebraic properties:

Closure under addition and multiplication: for all natural numbers

both a

a and b,

+ b and a b are natural numbers.

Associativity: for all natural numbers a, b, and c, a

+ (b + c) = (a + b)

+ c and a (b c) = (a b) c.

Commutativity: for all natural

numbers a and b, a

+ b = b + a and a b = b a.

Existence of identity elements: for every natural number a, a

+ 0 = a and a 1

= a.

Distributivity of multiplication over addition for all natural numbers a, b, and c, a

(b + c) = (a b) + (a c).

No nonzero zero divisors: if a and b are natural numbers such that a

then a

= 0 or b = 0.

b = 0,

Natural Numbers are 1,2,3,4,5,... [...] and Whole numbers are 0,1,2,3,... According to
Wikipedia: In mathematics, a natural number is either a positive integer (1, 2, 3, 4, ...) or a
non-negative integer (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ...).

An integer (pronounced IN-tuh-jer) is a whole number (not a

fractional number) that can be positive, negative, or zero.
Examples of integers are: -5, 1, 5, 8, 97, and 3,043.
Examples of numbers that are not integers are: -1.43, 1 3/4,
3.14, .09, and 5,643.1.
The set of integers, denoted Z, is formally defined as follows:
Z = {..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...}
Rational (Fraction) Numbers
Rational Numbers: Any number that can be written in fraction form is
a rational number. This includes integers, terminating decimals, and
repeating decimals as well as fractions. An integer can be written as
a fraction simply by giving it a denominator of one, so any integer is
a rational number.

Addition[edit]
Two fractions are added as follows:

Subtraction[edit]

Multiplication[edit]

The rule for multiplication is:

Division[edit]
Where c 0:

Inverse[edit]
Additive and multiplicative inverses exist in the rational numbers:

Exponentiation to integer power[edit]

If n is a non-negative integer, then

and (if a 0):

The three types of fractions are :

Proper fraction
Improper fraction
Mixed fraction

Proper fraction:

Fractions whose numerators are less than the denominators are called proper
fractions.(Numerator < denominator)
For examples:
2323, 3434, 4545, 5656, 6767, 2929 5858, 2525, etc are proper fractions.

Improper

fraction:

Fractions with the numerator either equal to or greater than the denominator are
called improper fraction. (Numerator = denominator or, Numerator > denominator)
Fractions like 5454, 175175, 5252 etc. are not proper fractions. These are improper
fractions. The fraction 7777 is an improper fraction.

Mixed fraction:
A combination of a proper fraction and a whole number is called a mixed fraction.
11313, 21313, 32525, 42525, 11110110, 913151315 and 123535 are examples of mixed
fraction.
Two 1212, make a whole.
1212
1212

+ 1212 = 2222 = 1

1212

What will you get if you add one more 1212 to a whole?
1212

+ 1212 + 1212 = 1 + 2222 =

11212
Now, you have three half or you can say that you have a whole and a half or 1212.
Number such as 11212 is a mixed number.

In mathematics, an irrational number is a realnumber that cannot be

expressed as a ratio of integers, i.e. as a fraction. Therefore, irrational
numbers, when written as decimal numbers, do not terminate, nor do they
repeat.
Examples:

A real number is any element of the set R, which is the union of the set of
rationalnumbers and the set of irrational numbers. In mathematical
expressions, unknown or unspecified real numbers are usually
represented by lowercase italic letters u through z.

LCM and HCF

Prime Number : Prime number is a number which has no factors except
itself and Unity.

Ex :2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17 etc are prime numbers

Common Multiple : A Common Multiple of two or more numbers is a number

which is exactly divisible by each of them.
o Ex : 12 is a common multiple of 2, 3, 4 and 6

Least Common Multiple (LCM) : The LCM of two or more given numbers is
the Least Number which is exactly divisible by each of them.

Highest Common Factor (HCF) : The HCF of two or more numbers is the
Greatest Number which divides each of them Exactly.
o It is also Called Greatest Common Divisor (GCD)

HCF Example
Consider the numbers 12 and 15:
The factors of 12 are : 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.

The factors of 15 are : 1, 3, 5, 15.

1 and 3 are the only common factors (numbers which are factors
of both 12 and 15).
Therefore, the highest common factor of 12 and 15 is 3.
Example Questions
Work out the answers to these questions and click the buttons marked
whether you are correct.

to see

(a) Find the highest common factor of 20 and 30 by following the steps below:
What are the factors of 20?
What are the factors of 30?
What is the highest common factor of 20 and 30?
(b) Find the highest common factor of 14 and 12 by following the steps below:
What are the factors of 14?
What are the factors of 12?
What is the highest common factor of 14 and 12?

The lowest common multiple (LCM) of two whole numbers

is the smallest whole number which is a multiple of both.

LCM Example
Consider the numbers 12 and 15 again:
The multiples of 12 are : 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, ....
The multiples of 15 are : 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, ....
60 is a common multiple (a multiple of both 12 and 15), and there are no
lower common multiples.
Therefore, the lowest common multiple of 12 and 15 is 60.
Example Questions
Work out the answers to these questions and click the buttons marked
whether you are correct.
(a) Find the lowest common multiple of 5 and 7 by following the steps below:

to see

What are the first ten multiples of 5?

What are the first ten multiples of 7?
What is the lowest common multiple of 5 and 7?
(b) Find the lowest common multiple of 6 and 10 by following the steps below:
What are the first ten multiples of 6?
What are the first ten multiples of 10?
What is the lowest common multiple of 6 and 10?
We want to find the HCF and LCM of the numbers 60 and 72.
Start by writing each number as a product of its prime factors.
60 = 2 * 2 * 3 * 5
72 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 3
To make the next stage easier, we need to write these so that each new prime factor begins in
the same place:
60

=2

*2

72

=2

*2

*3
*2

*3

*5
*3

All the "2"s are now above each other, as are the "3"s etc. This allows us to match up the
prime factors.
The highest common factor is found by multiplying all the factors which appear in both lists:

So the HCF of 60 and 72 is 2 2 3 which is 12.

The lowest common multiple is found by multiplying all the factors which appear
in either list:

So the LCM of 60 and 72 is 2 2 2 3 3 5 which is 360.

First we find the least common multiple (L.C.M.) of 28, 36 and 45.

Therefore, least common multiple (L.C.M.) of 28, 36 and 45 = 2 2 3

3 5 7 = 1260
Methods of finding HCF :

HCF by factorization :

1. Express each of the given number as the product of Prime Factors

2. Choose common factors
3. Find the Product of Lowest Power of these Factors.

This Product is the required HCF of the given Numbers

Ex : Find the HCF of 84, 540

If you find this method till confusing, don't worry. There is another method to find
HCF.

HCF by Method of Division :

o Consider two different numbers.
o Divide the longer number by the smaller one.
o Now divide the divisor by the reminder.
o Repeat this process of dividing the preceding divisor by the last
reminder obtained, till you get the reminder "0"
o The LAST DIVISOR is the HCF of the given TWO numbers

Thats it. Now the answer is 14 :)

CONVERSTIONS

1 hour = 60 minutes
1 minute = 60 seconds
1hour = 60 minutes = 3600 seconds (60 60)
1 day = 24 hours
1. How many minutes are there in a year?
Solution:
1 year = 365 days.
1 day = 24 hours.

1 hour = 60 minutes.
So one year = (365 24 60) minutes.
= (8760 60) minutes.
= 525600 minutes.
2. How many hours are there in a year?
Solution:
We know,
1 year = 365 days.
1 day = 24 hours.
So in one year = (365 24)
= 7860 hours.

3. How many minutes in 6 hours?

Solution:
We know,
1 hour = 60 minutes.
So 6 hours = (6 60) minutes.
= 360 minutes.
4. Convert 220 minutes to hours and minutes.
Solution:
We know that 60 minutes = 1 hour
220 minutes = (220/60) hours

= 3 hours 40 minutes.

Write the decimal as a mixed number with 100 as the denominator.

4.03 =

3
100

Write the decimal as a fraction with 10 as the denominator. Reduce the

fraction to simplest form.
0.
=
4

4
10
42
10 2
2
5

=
=

3
100 is written in simplest form.
Write the decimal as a fraction with 100 as the denominator. Reduce
the fraction to simplest form.
4.0 3 = 4

TRIANGLES

Algebra - Basic Definitions

What is an Equation
An equation says that two things are equal. It will have an equals sign "=" like
this:
x

That equation says: what is on the left (x + 2) is equal to what is on the

right (6)
So an equation is like a statement "this equals that"
Parts of an Equation
So people can talk about equations, there are names for different parts (better
than saying "that thingy there"!)
Here we have an equation that says 4x 7 equals 5, and all its parts:

A Variable is a symbol for a number we don't know yet. It is usually a letter like
x or y.
A number on its own is called a Constant.
A Coefficient is a number used to multiply a variable (4x means 4 times x,
so 4 is a coefficient)
Sometimes a letter stands in for the number:
Example: ax2 + bx + c
x is a variable
a and b are coefficients
c is a constant
An Operator is a symbol (such as +, , etc) that shows an operation (ie we
want to do something with the values).

A Term is either a single number or a variable, or numbers and variables

multiplied together.
An Expression is a group of terms (the terms are separated by + or signs)
So, now we can say things like "that expression has only two terms", or "the
second term is a constant", or even "are you sure the coefficient is really 4?"
Exponents

The

exponent

(such as the 2 in x2) says how many

times to use the value in a multiplication.

Examples:
82 = 8 8 = 64
y3 = y y y
y2z = y y z
Exponents make it easier to write and use many multiplications
Example: y4z2 is easier than y y y y z z, or even yyyyzz
Polynomial
Example of a Polynomial: 3x2 + x - 2
A

polynomial

can have constants, variables and the exponents

0,1,2,3,...
But it never has division by a variable.

Monomial, Binomial, Trinomial

There are special names for polynomials with 1, 2 or 3 terms:

Like Terms

Like Terms

are terms whose variables (and their

exponents

such as the

2 in x2) are the same.

In other words, terms that are "like" each other. (Note: the coefficients can be
different)
Example:

(1/3)xy2

-2xy2

6xy2

Are all like terms because the variables are all xy2

1) 3x4(x+4)=2
Apply the distributive property.
3x+(4x44)=2
3x+(4x16)=2
3x4x16=2
Subtract 4x from 3x to get x.
x16=2
x=16+2
Add 16 and 2 to get 18.
x=18
x=18

2) 3^3
Raise 3 to the power of 3 to get 27.
127

3) (9+8)7
Add 9 and 8 to get 17.
177
Multiply 17 by 7 to get 119.
119
4) 9(711x)

9(7)+9(11x)
99x+63

Quadratic Equations

An example of a Quadratic Equation:

The name Quadratic comes from "quad" meaning square, because the variable
gets squared (like x2).

It is also called an "Equation of Degree 2" (because of the "2" on the x)

Standard Form
The Standard Form of a Quadratic Equation looks like this:

a, b and c are known values. a can't be 0.

"x" is the variable or unknown (we don't know it yet).
Here are some more examples:
2x2 + 5x + 3 =
0

In this one a=2, b=5 and c=3

x2 3x = 0

This one is a little more tricky:

Where is a? Well a=1, and we don't usually write "1x2"
b = -3
And where is c? Well c=0, so is not shown.

5x 3 = 0

Oops! This one is not a quadratic equation: it is missing x2

(in other words a=0, which means it can't be quadratic)

Hidden Quadratic Equations!

So the "Standard Form" of a Quadratic Equation is

ax2 + bx + c = 0
But sometimes a quadratic equation doesn't look like that! For example:

In disguise

In Standard
Form

a, b and c

x2 = 3x 1

Move all terms to left hand

side

x2 3x + 1 = 0

a=1, b=3,
c=1

2w2 4w 5
=0

a=2, b=4,
c=5

2(w2 2w)
=5

Expand (undo
the brackets),
and move 5 to left

z(z1) = 3

Expand, and move 3 to left

z2 z 3 = 0

a=1, b=1,
c=3

How To Solve It?

The "solutions" to the Quadratic Equation are where it is equal to zero.
There are usually 2 solutions
They are also called "roots", or sometimes "zeros"
There are 3 ways to find the solutions:
1. We can Factor the Quadratic (find what to multiply to make the Quadratic
Equation)
2. We can Complete the Square, or
3. We can use the special Quadratic Formula:

Just plug in the values of a, b and c, and do the calculations.

About the Quadratic Formula
Plus/Minus

The means there are TWO answers:

Here is why we can get two answers:

But sometimes we don't get two real answers, and the "Discriminant" shows why
...
Discriminant
Do you see b2 4ac in the formula above? It is called the Discriminant, because
it can "discriminate" between the possible types of answer:

when b2 - 4ac is positive, we get two Real solutions

when it is zero we get just ONE real solution (both answers are the same)
when it is negative we get two Complex solutions
Complex solutions? Let's talk about them after we see how to use the formula.
Using the Quadratic Formula
Just put the values of a, b and c into the Quadratic Formula, and do the
calculations.
Example: Solve 5x + 6x + 1 = 0
Coefficients are:

a = 5, b = 6, c = 1

Quadratic Formula:

x = b (b2 4ac)2a

Put in a, b and c:

x = 6 (62 451)25

Solve:

x = 6 (36 20)10
x = 6 (16)10
x = 6 410
x = 0.2 or 1

Answer: x = 0.2 or x = 1

And we see them on this graph.

Check -0.2:

5(0.2) + 6(0.2) + 1
= 5(0.04) + 6(0.2) + 1
= 0.2 1.2 + 1
=0

Check -1:

5(1) + 6(1) + 1
= 5(1) + 6(1) + 1
=56+1
=0

x = b (b2 4ac)2a
"A negative boy was thinking yes or no about going to a party,
at the party he talked to a square boy but not to the 4 awesome girls
It was all over at 2 am."
Complex Solutions?
When the Discriminant (the value b2 4ac) is negative we
get Complex solutions ... what does that mean?
It means our answer will include Imaginary Numbers . Wow!
Example: Solve 5x + 2x + 1 = 0
Coefficients are:

a = 5, b = 2, c = 1

Note that the Discriminant is negative:

b2 4ac = 22 451 = -16

Use the Quadratic Formula:

x = 2 (16)10

The square root of -16 is 4i

(i is -1, read Imaginary Numbers to find out more)
x = 2 4i10

So:

Answer: x = 0.2 0.4i

The graph does not cross the x-axis.

That is why we ended up with complex
numbers.

In some ways it is easier: we don't need more calculation, just leave it as 0.2

0.4i.
Summary
Quadratic Equation in Standard Form: ax 2 + bx + c = 0
Quadratic Equations can be factored

Quadratic Formula: x = b (b2 4ac)2a

When the Discriminant (b24ac) is:
positive, there are 2 real solutions
zero, there is one real solution
negative, there are 2 complex solutions

Simultaneous Equations
Concept
Simultaneous equations are a set of equations which have more than one unknown values.
Questions involving simultaneous equations require students to find the unknowns. First, we have
to represent the equations with different numbers or letters for clear explanation. Then we proceed
with the below steps.
There are generally two methods to solving simultaneous equations.
By substitution
By elimination
It may be better to use one method over the other for certain type of simultaneous equations
question. Only with practice, will you be able to deduce which method best suits that specific
question.

Example
Solve the simultaneous equations 2x + y = 5 and x + 2y = 7
Remember that we first have to represent the equations with proper symbols.
(1) 2x + y = 5
(2) x + 2y= 7
We shall solve it first with the substitution method and show the elimination method at a later
stage.

Method of SubstitutionIn the method of substitution, we express x in terms of y in one

equation and substitute it into the other.
From (2) , x = 7 - 2y (3)
Substitute (3) into (1).
2(7-2y) + y = 5

y=3
Substitute y = 3 into (1) or (2).
x=1

Method of EliminationLet us learn how to solve simultaneous equations using elimination.

Taking the above example, we can choose to eliminate x.
2x + y = 5 (1)
x + 2y = 7 (2)
To eliminate, say, x:
Multiply to obtain the same number of x's on both equations and cancel the x's by subtraction.
This leaves y.
2 x (2) : 2x + 4y = 14 (3)
(3) - (1) : 3y = 9
y=3
Again by substituting y = 3 into (1) or (2),
we arrive at the same conclusion that x = 1.
Both methods are equally suited to the solution of this problem.In any case, the aim is to reduce
the two unknowns to one through manipulation of both the equations.

Simultaneous Equations
Simultaneous equations and linear equations, after studying this section, you will be able to:

solve simultaneous linear equations by substitution

solve simultaneous linear equations by elimination

If an equation has two unknowns, such as 2y + x = 20, it cannot have unique solutions. Two
unknowns require two equations which are solved at the sametime (simultaneously) but even then
two equations involving two unknowns do not always give unique solutions.

Solve the two simultaneous equations:

2y + x = 8 [1]
1 + y = 2x [2]

from [2] y = 2x -1 subtract 1 from each side

Substituting this value for y into [1] gives:
2(2x 1) + x = 8
4x 2 + x = 8 expand the brackets
5x 2 = 8 tidy up
5x = 10 Add 2 to each side
x = 2 By dividing both sides by 5 the value of x is found.
Substitute the value of x into y = 2x 1 gives
y=4-1=3
So x = 2 and y = 3
NOTE:

It is a good idea to label each equation. It helps you explain what you are doing and may
gain you method marks.

This value of x can be substituted into equation [1] or [2], or into the expression for y: y = 2x
1.

Choose the one that is easiest!

As a check, substitute the values back into each of the two starting equations.

The second method is called solution by elimination.

NOTE:The method is not quite as hard as it first seems, but it helps if you know why it works.
It works because of two properties of equations:

Multiplying (or dividing) the expression on each side by the same number does not alter the
equation.

Adding

two

equations

produces

another

e.g. 2x = x + 10 (x = 10) and x 3 =

Adding the equations gives 2x + x 3 = x + 10 + 7 (x also = 10).

valid
7

(x

equation:
also

10).

The object is to manipulate the two equations so that, when combined, either the x term or the y term
is eliminated (hence the name) the resulting equation with just one unknown can then be solved:
Here we will manipulate one of the equations so that when it is combined with the other equation
either the x or y terms will drop out. In this example the x term will drop out giving a solution for y. This
is then substituted into one of the otiginal equations.
Label your equations so you know which one your are working with at each stage.
Equation [1] is 2y + x = 8
Equation [2] is 1 + y = 2x
Rearrange one equation so it is similar to the other.

[2] y 2x = -1
also 2 x [1] gives 4y + 2x = 16 which we call [3]
[2] y 2x = -1
[3] 4y +2x = 16
[2] + [3] gives 5y = 15
so y = 3
substituting y = 3 into [1] gives 1 + (3) = 2x
so 2x = 4, giving x = 2 and y = 3

Multiplying and Dividing Decimals

Introduction
As with whole numbers, sometimes you run into situations where you need to multiply or
divide decimals. And just as there is a correct way to multiply and divide whole numbers, so,
too, there is a correct way to multiply and divide decimals.
Imagine that a couple eats dinner at a Japanese steakhouse. The bill for the meal is $58.32
which includes a tax of $4.64. To calculate the tip, they can double the tax. So if they know
how to multiply $4.64 by 2, the couple can figure out how much they should leave for the tip.

Heres another problem. Andy just sold his van that averaged 20 miles per gallon of
gasoline. He bought a new pickup truck and took it on a trip of 614.25 miles. He used 31.5
gallons of gas to make it that far. Did Andy get better gas mileage with the new truck?
Both of these problems can be solved by multiplying or dividing decimals. Heres how to do
it.
Multiplying Decimals
Multiplying decimals is the same as multiplying whole numbers except for the placement of
the decimal point in the answer. When you multiply decimals, the decimal point is placed in
the product so that the number of decimal places in the product is the sum of the decimal
places in the factors. Lets compare two multiplication problems that look similar: 214 36,
and 21.4 3.6.
214
21.4
x 36
x 3.6
1284
1284
6420
6420
7,704
77.04
Notice how the digits in the two solutions are exactly the same the multiplication does not
change at all. The difference lies in the placement of the decimal point in the final answers:
214 36 = 7,704, and 21.4 3.6 = 77.04.To find out where to put the decimal point in a
decimal multiplication problem, count the total number of decimal places in each of the
factors.
21.4
3.6
77.04

the first factor has one decimal place

the second factor has one decimal place
the product will have 1 + 1 = 2 decimal places

Note that the decimal points do not have to be aligned as for addition and subtraction.

Example
Problem

3.04 6.1 = ?
3.04
x 6.1
304
18240
18544

Set up the problem.

Multiply.
Add.
Count the total number
of decimal places in the
factors and insert the
decimal point in the

product.
3.04 2 decimal places.
x 6.1 1 decimal place.
304
18240
18.544 3 decimal places.
Answer

3.04 6.1 = 18.544

Sometimes you may need to insert zeros in front of the product so that you have the right
number of decimal places. See the final answer in the example below:
Example
Problem

0.037 0.08 = ?
0.037
x 0.08
296

Set up the problem.

Multiply.
Count the total number
of decimal places in the
factors and insert the
decimal point in the
product.

0.037 3 decimal places.

x 0.08 2 decimal places.
0.00296 5 decimal places.
Answer

0.037 0.08 = 0.00296

Note that you needed to

add zeros before 296 to
get the 5 decimal
places.

If one or more zeros occur on the right in the product, they are not dropped until after the
decimal point is inserted.

Example
Problem

2.04 1.95 = ?
2.04
x 1.95
1020
18360
20400
39780

Set up the problem.

Multiply.
Add.

2.04 2 decimal places.

x 1.95 2 decimal places.
1020

18360
20400
3.9780 4 decimal places.
2.04 1.95 = 3.978

Answer

Answer can omit the

final trailing 0.

Multiplying Decimals
To multiply decimals:
Set up and multiply the numbers as you do with whole numbers.
Count the total number of decimal places in both of the factors.
Place the decimal point in the product so that the number of decimal places in the
product is the sum of the decimal places in the factors.
Keep all zeros in the product when you place the decimal point. You can drop the
zeros on the right once the decimal point has been placed in the product. If the
number of decimal places is greater than the number of digits in the product, you can
insert zeros in front of the product.
Multiplying by Tens
Take a moment to multiply 4.469 by 10. Now do 4.469 100. Finally, do 4.469 1,000.
Notice any patterns in your products?
4.469
x 10
44.690

4.469
x 100
446.900

4.469
x 1000
4469.000

Notice that the products keep getting greater by one place value as the multiplier (10, 100,
and 1,000) increases. In fact, the decimal point moves to the right by the same number of
zeros in the power of ten multiplier.
4.469 10 = 44.69

4.469 100 = 446.9

4.469 1,000 = 4469.

You can use this observation to help you quickly multiply any decimal by a power of ten (10,
100, 1,000, etc).

Example
Problem

0.03 100 = ?
0.03 100 = ?

100 has two

zeros.
0.03 100 = 3

Answer

Move the
decimal point
two places to
the right to find
the product.

0.03 100 = 3

Multiplying a Decimal by a Power of Ten

To multiply a decimal number by a power of ten (such as 10, 100, 1,000, etc.), count the
number of zeros in the power of ten. Then move the decimal point that number of places
to the right.

For example, 0.054 100 = 5.4. The multiplier 100 has two zeros, so you move the
decimal point in 0.054 two places to the rightfor a product of 5.4.

Dividing Decimals

To divide decimals, you will once again apply the methods you use for dividing whole
numbers. Look at the two problems below. How are the methods similar?

Notice that the division occurs in the same waythe only difference is the placement of the
decimal point in the quotient.

Example
Problem

Answer

18.32 8 = ?
________
8)18.32

Set up the
problem.

2.2 9
8)18.32
-1 6
23
-1 6
72
- 7 2
0

Divide.

2.2 9
8)18.32

Place decimal
point in the
quotient. It
should be
placed
directly above
the decimal
point in the
dividend.

18.32 8 = 2.29

In cases like this, you can use powers of 10 to help create an easier problem to solve. In this
case, you can multiply the divisor, 0.3, by 10 to move the decimal point 1 place to the right.
If you multiply the divisor by 10, then you also have to multiply the dividend by 10 to keep
the quotient the same. The new problem, with its solution, is shown below.

Example
Problem

260.1 0.3 = ?
________
0.3)260.1

Set up the
problem.

__________
3.)2601.

Multiply
divisor and
dividend by

10 to create a
whole number
divisor.
8 6 7
3)2601
-2 4
20
-1 8
21
- 2 1
0
Answer

Divide.

260.1 0.3 = 867

Often, the dividend will still be a decimal after multiplying by a power of 10. In this case, the
placement of the decimal point must align with the decimal point in the dividend.

Example
Problem

15.275 3.25 = ?
__________
3.25)15.275

Set up the problem.

___________
325.)1527.5

Multiply divisor and

dividend by 100 to
create a whole number
divisor.

4.7
325.)1527.5
1 3 0 0
2275
-2 2 7 5
0

Divide. 325 goes into

1527 four times, so the
number 4 is placed
above the digit 7.

The decimal point in

the quotient is placed
directly above the
decimal point in the
dividend.
Answer

15.275 3.25 = 4.7

Dividing Decimals

Dividing Decimals by Whole Numbers

Divide as you would with whole numbers. Then place the decimal point in the quotient
directly above the decimal point in the dividend.

Dividing by Decimals
To divide by a decimal, multiply the divisor by a power of ten to make the divisor a whole
number. Then multiply the dividend by the same power of ten. You can think of this as
moving the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places to the right as you
move the decimal point in the divisor.

Then place the decimal point in the quotient directly over the decimal point in the
dividend. Finally, divide as you would with whole numbers.

Dividing by Tens
Recall that when you multiply a decimal by a power of ten (10, 100, 1,000, etc), the
placement of the decimal point in the product will move to the right according to the number
of zeros in the power of ten. For instance, 4.12 10 = 41.2.
Multiplication and division are inverse operations, so you can expect that if you divide a
decimal by a power of ten, the decimal point in the quotient will also correspond to the
number of zeros in the power of ten. The difference is that the decimal point moves to the
right when you multiply; it moves to the left when you divide.

In the examples above, notice that each quotient still contains the digits 4469but as
another 0 is added to the end of each power of ten in the divisor, the decimal point moves an
additional place to the left in the quotient.

Dividing by Powers of Ten

To divide a decimal by a power of ten (10, 100, 1,000, etc.), count the number of zeros in
the divisor. Then move the decimal point in the dividend that number of decimal places
to the left; this will be your quotient.

Example
Problem

31.05 10 = ?
31.05 10 = ?

31.05 10 = 3.105

10 has one
zero.
Move the

decimal point
one place to the
left in the
dividend; this is
the quotient.
Answer

31.05 10 = 3.105

Dividing with Decimals

Dividing with decimals is a bit more difficult. These days, most teachers don't mind much if
you use a calculator. But it's good to know how to do it yourself, too, and you always need to
be good at estimating the answer, so you can make sure the calculator's answer is reasonable.
Recall that in the problem x y = z, also written

x is called the dividend, y is the divisor, and z is the quotient.

Step 1: Estimate the answer by rounding. You'll use this estimate to check your answer later.
Step 2: If the divisor is not a whole number, then move the decimal place n places to the right
to make it a whole number. Then move the decimal place in the dividend the same number of
places to the right (adding some extra zeros if necessary.)
Step 3: Divide as usual. If the divisor doesn't go in evenly, add zeros to the right of the
dividend and keep dividing until you get a 0 remainder, or until a repeating pattern shows up.
Step 4: Put the decimal point in the quotient directly above where the decimal point now is in
the dividend.
Step 5: Check your answer against your estimate to see if it's reasonable.
Example:
Divide.