Question

Cheryl solved a problem: 84 ÷ 0.01 = 8,400.

Jane said, "Your answer is wrong because when you divide, the quotient is always smaller than the whole amount you start with, for example, 6 ÷ 2 = 3 and 100 ÷ 4 = 25." Who is correct? Explain your thinking.

Answer 1

Cheryl is correct.

Explanation:

Cheryl solved a problem : 84 ÷ 0.01 = 8,400.

This is absolutely right.

When we divide any whole number with the divisor having decimal, we change the divisor to a whole number before performing the division.

To do this, we multiply both the numbers (divisor and dividend) by the same power of 10, until the divisor is a whole number.

`(84* 10)/(0.01* 10)` =
`(840)/(0.1)`

to make divisor a whole number we will again multiply both the numbers by 10.

`(840* 10)/(0.1* 10)` =
`(8400)/(1)` = 8,400

Now answer would be 8400.

Therefore, Cheryl is correct.