Dividing Decimals by 10, 100 and 1000

D10Dividing by 10, 100 and 1000

The digits slide right. The number gets smaller.

Dividing by 10, 100 or 1000 moves every digit down the place-value columns.

34.5 ÷ 10 = ?

↓ every digit slides one place right

34.5 ÷ 10 = 3.45 · 345 ÷ 100 = 3.45 · 7 ÷ 100 = 0.07

Learn the Method

1÷ 10: slide one place.

Every digit moves one column right. 34.5 → 3.45.

34.5 → 3.45

2÷ 100: slide two places.

Two columns right. 345 → 3.45.

345 → 3.45

3÷ 1000: slide three places.

Three columns right — pad with zeros after the point if needed. 7 → 0.007.

7 → 0.007

💡 Key IdeaDividing by 10/100/1000 is the exact reverse of multiplying — digits slide right and the number gets smaller.

Worked Example

Work these out.

26 ÷ 10 =

2.6

83 ÷ 100 =

0.83

4.5 ÷ 10 =

0.45

1900 ÷ 1000 =

1.9

Watch Out! Common Mistakes

Just crossing off a zero.

1900 ÷ 1000 = 190 ✕

Wrong! ÷1000 means three places right: 1900 → 1.9.

Moving the wrong direction.

4.5 ÷ 10 = 45 ✕

Wrong! Dividing makes the number smaller: 4.5 ÷ 10 = 0.45.

Losing the leading zero.

7 ÷ 100 = .07 ✕

Careful! Always write the zero before the point: 0.07. It prevents misreading.

⬇ Cheat Sheet

DIVIDING BY 10, 100 AND 1000

÷10 → digits slide 1 place right.
÷100 → 2 places. ÷1000 → 3 places.
Pad with zeros after the point if needed.
Dividing by 10/100/1000 always makes the number smaller.

Examples: 34.5 ÷ 10 = 3.45 · 345 ÷ 100 = 3.45 · 7 ÷ 100 = 0.07

📖 Continue Your Journey

✓ D1 What Are Decimals?✓ D2 Place Value in Decimals ✓ D3 Decimals on a Number Line ✓ D4 Comparing Decimals ✓ D5 Ordering Decimals ✓ D6 Rounding Decimals ✓ D7 Adding Decimals ✓ D8 Subtracting Decimals ✓ D9 Multiplying by 10, 100 and 1000 D10 Dividing by 10, 100 and 1000 D11 Multiplying Decimals by Whole Numbers D12 Dividing Decimals by Whole Numbers D13 Fractions to Decimals D14 Decimal Problem Solving

→

Next Lesson: D11 Multiplying Decimals by Whole NumbersMultiply as whole numbers. Put the point back.

📄 Free printable: Download the Dividing by 10, 100 and 1000 cheat sheet (PDF) — keep it by your child's desk.

Quick summary

÷10 slides every digit one place right; ÷100 two; ÷1000 three.
The number always gets smaller: 34.5 ÷ 10 = 3.45.
Pad with zeros after the point when needed: 7 ÷ 100 = 0.07.
Always write the leading zero: 0.07, never .07.

Frequently asked questions

How do you divide a decimal by 10?

Move every digit one place to the right (the point appears to hop left): 34.5 ÷ 10 = 3.45.

What is 7 ÷ 100?

0.07. The 7 slides two places right, into the hundredths column, and a zero holds the tenths place.

How does this connect to converting units?

Metric conversions are exactly this skill: 345 cm ÷ 100 = 3.45 m. Mastering digit-sliding makes the whole measurement topic easier.

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