Question

When dividing decimals, in which situation might you use a trailing zero?

A. When estimating a quotient
B. When the divisor is a whole number
C. When there is a remainder
D. When the divided goes beyond the tenths place

Answer 1

You use a trailing zero when dividing decimals when the division goes beyond the tenths place. It allows you to keep dividing until you achieve a desired precision. For instance, when dividing 1.6 by 3, a trailing zero is added to keep the division going as 3 does not go into 6 exactly.

Step-by-step explanation:

You use a trailing zero in division of decimals in situation D: When the division goes beyond the tenths place. In the process of division, when the divisor does not go into the dividend exactly and we have to go beyond the tenths place, we add a trailing zero. This is to keep the division going until we reach a point where the divisor can divide the new dividend or until we reach a desired level of precision.

For example, if you are dividing 1.6 by 3, after dividing 1 by 3 and moving to the next digit, 6, we find that 3 does not go into 6 exactly. Here, we add a trailing zero to 6 (making it 60) to keep the division going.

Learn more about Dividing Decimals

Answer 2

Option C

Step-by-step explanation:

When dividing a number by another number that is not completely divisible, for example 10÷4 we start by getting 2 as the divider then remainer from 10-(2*4)=2. The remainder being 2 is not divisible by 4, we introduce a decimal and trailing zero. 20÷4=5 hence the answer of 10÷4 will be 2.5 because it had a remainder and we introduced a trailing zero.