Divide Whole Numbers by 0.1 and 0.01

10 min

Narrative

The purpose of this Number Talk is for students to divide a whole number by a tenth and a hundredth, presented both as fractions and as decimals. This prepares students to work with and understand quotients of whole numbers by decimals in this and future lessons.

Launch

  • Display one problem.
  • “Give me a signal when you have an answer and can explain how you got it.”
  • 1 minute: quiet think time
Teacher Instructions
  • Record answers and strategy.
  • Keep problems and work displayed.
  • Repeat with each problem.

Student Task

Find the value of each expression mentally.

  • 1÷1101 \div \frac{1}{10}
  • 2÷1102 \div \frac{1}{10}
  • 1÷0.011 \div 0.01
  • 2÷0.012 \div 0.01

Sample Response

  • 10: There are 10 tenths in 1 whole.
  • 20: There are twice as many tenths in 2 wholes.
  • 100: There are 100 hundredths in 1 whole.
  • 200: There are twice as many hundredths in 2 wholes.
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
  • “What is the same about these expressions? What is different?” (They all show a whole number divided by a number less than 1. Some have decimals and some have fractions, but the decimals and fraction are all 1 of some unit. They all have a value that is a whole number.)
Standards
Addressing
  • 5.NBT.7·Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.
  • 5.NBT.B.7·Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.
  • 5.NF.7.b·Interpret division of a whole number by a unit fraction, and compute such quotients. <em>For example, create a story context for 4 ÷ (1/5), and use a visual fraction model to show the quotient. Use the relationship between multiplication and division to explain that 4 ÷ (1/5) = 20 because 20 × (1/5) = 4.</em>
  • 5.NF.B.7.b·Interpret division of a whole number by a unit fraction, and compute such quotients. <span>For example, create a story context for <span class="math">\(4 \div (1/5)\)</span>, and use a visual fraction model to show the quotient. Use the relationship between multiplication and division to explain that <span class="math">\(4 \div (1/5) = 20~\)</span> because <span class="math">\(20 \times (1/5) = 4\)</span>.</span>

15 min

20 min