Dividing by decimals is just like dividing by whole numbers. When you calculate 2.5 ÷ 0.5, the question is, "How many 5 tenths are in 25 tenths?” which is the same as asking, "How many fives are in 25?” Notice that each part of the question is multiplied by 10, yielding the same result, but the question is now easier to solve.

It's tricky if the question is something like 2.05 ÷ 0.5. This time, the question is, "How many 5 tenths are in 205 hundredths?” The units are not the same, so, instead, think of the question as, "How many 50 hundredths are in 205 hundredths?” Then, solve 205 ÷ 50.

Zeros in the quotient can also be a problem when dividing decimals. For example, 606 ÷ 6 will often result in an answer of 11 rather than 101; the same will occur when you encounter 6.06 ÷ 6 and find a solution of 1.1 instead of 1.01.

Decimals can also be thought of in terms of money. The following illustrates an example of division involving money. Alan bought a sweater for $19.50. Betty bought a sweater for $32.20. How many times as expensive as Alan's sweater was Betty's? First estimate. Discuss how to round the answer to a reasonable amount. To solve this problem, you can divide 322 dimes by 195 dimes to get approximately 1.7. Therefore, Betty's sweater is approximately 1.7 times as expensive then Alan's sweater. When you divide 32.2 by 19.5, the same answer is achieved as if one divides 32.20 by 19.50, the increase is the same no matter how you write the price, as long as each price is multiplied by the same number.