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When you divide a whole number by a decimal less than 1, the quotient is greater than the whole number. Why?

1 Answer

4 votes

Because division is repeated subtraction.

For example: "10 divided by 2" means "How many times can you
subtract 2 from 10 before the 10 is all gone ?".

When you divide a whole number by ' 1 ', you're trying to find out
how many times you can subtract ' 1 ' from the whole number.
Of course, the answer is the whole number itself.

Now, when you divide a whole number by a piece less than ' 1 ',
you're trying to find out how many times you can take a piece of ' 1 '
away from the whole number. Of course THAT will be more times
than the whole number itself.

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User Vonette
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