Division and fractions
Do a division digit by digit, and see that every fraction is really a division you can turn into a decimal.
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- Russia: grade 6
Guide
A fraction is a division! 34 means 3 divided by 4, just like sharing 3 loaves of bread equally between 4 people. Each person gets 34 of a loaf. So the numerator is the dividend and the denominator is the divisor.
In the written method (the bus stop), the divisor sits outside the bracket on the left and the dividend goes inside. You write the quotient on top, above the digits, and the subtractions underneath.
Each step has three jobs. First, work out how many times the divisor goes into the number and write that digit on top. Next, multiply that digit by the divisor and write the answer underneath. Then subtract to find the remainder. Bring down the next digit and do it all again.
If you run out of digits but still have a remainder, you can keep going: put a decimal point in the quotient and bring down a zero, because 3 is the same as 3.0 and 3.00. That is how a fraction turns into a decimal: 34 = 0.75.
Every digit you get right turns green. If a digit isn't right yet, it gets a dotted border so you can work it out again. If you get stuck, press "Show me this step".