Practise Using Bus Stop Method to Divide With a Decimal Remainder

In this activity, we will practise dividing 4-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers using a written method with decimal remainders.

Presenting remainders as decimals can be particularly useful when dealing with money or measures. 

Let's look at the steps needed to solve this question.

Mrs Perry has £1,345 which she won in a lottery. 

She wants to share the money out between her four grandchildren. 

How much money does each grandchild get?

Step 1:

If we use normal written division, we get the answer £336 r 1.

This is not a useful answer when we are sharing sums of money. 

We need the answer in pounds and pence.

Step 2:

Instead of writing the answer as 336 r1, we extend our calculation as shown below. 

Top tip: Make sure you add a decimal point above and below the line in the division.

Step 3:

We can keep extending our calculation with zeros and calculating a decimal until we end up with no remainder.

So, each grandchild will receive £336.25. How generous of Mrs Perry!

Now it's time to try some for yourself. ​