Practice 1
Answer & reasoning
3 · Nine tenths contains three groups of three tenths.
Why can dividing a decimal give a larger number?
Count how many small measured groups fit in an amount, and name the unit of the quotient.
Try the practice questionsStart with this question
How many 0.2-metre pieces fit in 0.8 metres of ribbon?
The key idea: Four pieces. Eight tenths contains four groups of two tenths, so 0.8 ÷ 0.2 = 4.
Make the idea visible
- Name both units: the total is 0.8 metres, and each piece is 0.2 metres. Assume exact cuts with no loss for this mathematics task.
- Rename both lengths in tenths of a metre. Ask how many groups of two tenths fit in eight tenths.
- Count four groups and record a quotient of 4 pieces. Do not label it 4 metres.
- Check with multiplication: four pieces × 0.2 metres per piece = 0.8 metres. The product recovers the original length.
A useful error to discuss
A learner might say: Division must produce a number smaller than the starting number.
This quotient counts groups. The dividend is a length, while the quotient is a number of pieces. A small group size can fit many times.
Practise, then check
Try the first three questions with the model. Try the final check without help. A correct value is a starting point: explain how your units or drawing support it.
Practice 2
Answer & reasoning
4 · Four quarter-litre servings make one litre.
Practice 3
Answer & reasoning
6 · Six groups of one tenth fit in six tenths.
Independent check
Answer & reasoning
7 · Fourteen tenths divided into groups of two tenths makes seven groups.
Explain a new situation
Compare the questions 0.8 ÷ 4 and 0.8 ÷ 0.2. What does each answer measure?
Discuss the explanation
0.8 ÷ 4 shares 0.8 into four equal groups, each of size 0.2. In the ribbon context, that is metres per piece. 0.8 ÷ 0.2 asks for the count of 0.2-metre pieces: 4.
Materials for your group
Student pages and teacher answers are separate. Download an HTML file to keep or use your browser to print or save as PDF.
Choose the next step
If the learner confuses size and count, draw the groups and label both quantities before calculating.
Open a related complete lesson →