Question

What does the division of 17.9 by 2.38 suggest about the divisor?

a) The divisor is a decimal.
b) The divisor is a whole number.
c) The divisor is a fraction.
d) The divisor cannot be determined.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option a, the divisor is a decimal since it contains digits to the right of the decimal point. Whole numbers lack decimal places, and while fractions can represent decimals.

Step-by-step explanation:

When dividing 17.9 by 2.38, this operation clearly indicates that the divisor, 2.38, is not a whole number but a decimal value because it contains digits to the right of the decimal point. To further clarify, a whole number would not have any digits beyond the decimal point, and fractions are typically represented as a ratio of two integers (although decimal numbers can also be expressed as fractions). Understanding these basic mathematics principles is crucial in identifying number types and in performing arithmetic operations with a correct approach to significant figures and rounding.

When we perform the division, we get a result of approximately 7.53781512605042, which contains decimal places. This further confirms that the divisor is a decimal.