Solve Decimal Division: 20.1 ÷ 10 Step by Step

Q: Why does dividing by 10 move the decimal left?

Dividing by 10 makes numbers ten times smaller. Moving the decimal point left represents this reduction in size - each place to the left is 10 times smaller than the previous place!

Q: What if there's a zero after I move the decimal?

Keep the zero! In $ 20.1 \div 10 $, the result is 2.01, not 2.1. That zero shows the value is in the hundredths place, which matters for precision.

Q: How do I remember which way to move the decimal?

Remember: division makes numbers smaller, so move left. Multiplication makes numbers bigger, so move right. Think of it as the decimal "running away" from larger numbers!

Q: What if I need to divide by 100 or 1000?

Use the same pattern! Dividing by 100 moves the decimal two places left, dividing by 1000 moves it three places left. Count the zeros in the divisor!

Q: Can I check my answer without multiplying?

Yes! Think about it logically: $ 20.1 \div 10 $ should give you something close to 2 (since 20 ÷ 10 = 2). If you got 0.201 or 21, you'd know something went wrong!

Decimal Division with Place Value Shifting

$20.1:10=$

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:04 Let's solve this problem together.

00:08 First, count the number of zeros.

00:13 Then, move the decimal point that many places.

00:19 And that's how we find the answer!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$20.1:10=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve $20.1 \div 10$ , we follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify that we are dividing by 10, so we will move the decimal point one place to the left.
Step 2: Start with the number 20.1 and move the decimal point one place left to get 2.01.
Step 3: Write the new number after shifting the decimal, which gives us 2.01.

After carrying out these steps, we find that the solution to the problem is $2.01$ .

Final Answer

$2.01$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Dividing by 10 moves decimal point one place left
Technique: From 20.1 ÷ 10, shift left: 20.1 → 2.01
Check: Multiply result by divisor: 2.01 × 10 = 20.1 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Dropping the zero after the decimal point
Don't write 2.1 instead of 2.01 = wrong answer! When you shift left from 20.1, the zero must stay to maintain place value. Always keep all digits when shifting decimal points.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$\text{0}.07\times10=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why does dividing by 10 move the decimal left?

Dividing by 10 makes numbers ten times smaller. Moving the decimal point left represents this reduction in size - each place to the left is 10 times smaller than the previous place!

What if there's a zero after I move the decimal?

Keep the zero! In $20.1 \div 10$ , the result is 2.01, not 2.1. That zero shows the value is in the hundredths place, which matters for precision.

How do I remember which way to move the decimal?

Remember: division makes numbers smaller, so move left. Multiplication makes numbers bigger, so move right. Think of it as the decimal "running away" from larger numbers!

What if I need to divide by 100 or 1000?

Use the same pattern! Dividing by 100 moves the decimal two places left, dividing by 1000 moves it three places left. Count the zeros in the divisor!

Can I check my answer without multiplying?

Yes! Think about it logically: $20.1 \div 10$ should give you something close to 2 (since 20 ÷ 10 = 2). If you got 0.201 or 21, you'd know something went wrong!

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Decimal Fractions - Advanced questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime