Example: What is 3 ÷ 1. 2?

Example: In the problem 3 ÷ 1. 2, our whole number is 3. Since 1. 2 has one place to the right of the decimal point, rewrite 3 as 3. 0, so it also has one place after the decimal. Now our problem is 3. 0 ÷ 1. 2. Warning: do not add zeros to the left of the decimal point! 3 is the same as 3. 0 or 3. 00, but it is not the same as 30 or 300.

Example: To turn 3. 0 ÷ 1. 2 into whole numbers, move the decimal points one space to the right. 3. 0 becomes 30, and 1. 2 becomes 12. Now our problem is 30 ÷ 12.

All that’s left is to figure out how many times the divisor goes into the dividend.

Example: We’re trying to fit 12 into 30. Compare 12 to the first digit of the divisor, 3. Since 12 is larger than 3, it goes into it 0 times. Write 0 above the 3, on the answer line.

Example: Since 0 x 12 = 0, write 0 underneath the 3.

Example: 3 - 0 = 3, so write 3 directly below the 0.

Example: Our dividend is 30. We’ve already looked at the 3, so the next digit to bring down is 0. Bring this down next to your 3 to make 30.

Example:’ How many times does 12 fit into 30? The closest we can get is 2, since 12 x 2 = 24. Write 2 in the second spot of the answer line. If you’re not sure what the answer is, try some multiplication problems until you find the largest answer that fits. For example, if it seems like 3 is about write, multiply out 12 x 3 and you’ll get 36. This is too big, since we’re trying to fit within 30. Try the next one down, 12 x 2 = 24. This does fit, so 2 is the correct answer.

Multiply the new digit on your answer line by the divisor: 2 x 12 = 24. Write the product on a new line below your dividend: Write 24 directly underneath 30. Subtract the lowest line from the one above it: 30 - 24 = 6, so write 6 on a new line underneath.

Example: We just wrote 2 at the end of the answer line. Go to the next step.

Example: We’re at the end of the answer line but the answer to our last subtraction problem is “6. " Extend the “30” under the long division symbol by adding “. 0” to the end. Write a decimal point at the same spot on the answer line as well, but don’t write anything after it yet.

Example: Bring down the new 0 down to the last line to make “60. " Since 12 goes into 60 exactly 5 times, write 5 as the last digit on our answer line. Don’t forget that we put a decimal on our answer line, so 2. 5 is the final answer to our problem.