Question

Geraldine solved a problem: 68.5 ÷ 0.01 = 6,850.

Ralph said, "This is wrong because a quotient can’t be greater than the whole you start with. For example, 8 ÷ 2 = 4 and 250 ÷ 5 = 50." Who is correct? Explain your thinking.

Answer 1

Geraldine is Correct

Explanation:

Topic: Dividing numers and fractions

the statement Ralph tells has a flaw, he is right for numbers greater than one, but what happens with number in between (0 , 1)?

lets check Geraldine example

`(68.5)/(0.01)  = 6850`

remember how to transform decimals to fractions? look the image attached

you can express 0.01 as
`(0.01)/(1)` and by multiplying it by 100 the upper and down part of the fraction you have that

`0.01 * (100)/(100)  = (1)/(100)`

remember how to divide fractions?

`((68.5)/(1) )/((1)/(100) )`

by doing this you have that
`(68.5*100)/(1*1) = 6850`

so we found out that geraldine is right!