Question

Cheryl solved a problem: 84 ÷ 0.01 = 8,400.
Jane said, "Your answer is wrong because when you divide, the quotient is always smaller than the whole amount you start with, for example, 6 ÷ 2 = 3 and 100 ÷ 4 = 25." Who is correct? Explain your thinking.

Answer 1

Answer:

Cheryl is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cheryl solved a problem : 84 ÷ 0.01 = 8,400.

This is absolutely right.

When we divide any whole number with the divisor having decimal, we change the divisor to a whole number before performing the division.

To do this, we multiply both the numbers (divisor and dividend) by the same power of 10, until the divisor is a whole number.

$\frac{84\times 10}{0.01\times 10}$ = $\frac{840}{0.1}$

to make divisor a whole number we will again multiply both the numbers by 10.

$\frac{840\times 10}{0.1\times 10}$ = $\frac{8400}{1}$ = 8,400

Now answer would be 8400.

Therefore, Cheryl is correct.