Tips and Tricks about dividing decimals?

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Specializes in Forensics, Trauma, Pediatrics,.

Hey Everyone!

So I started my RN program this week. We were assigned 12 chapters to read for next week, and there is a workbook section for each chapters, as well as pretests and such for 5 of the assigned chapters as they are math review. Let's just say I am a little more than stressed out right now. It's that point where you are so overwhelmed you just stare at the book and don't know what to do with it.

Anyway, I am working on the math review chapters, and knew a majority of the problems until I got to division of decimals. I have looked at the accompanying section and examples in the book and understand it there... but when I go to do it, it just doesn't click, I can't seem to get through the problems to the end, with the right answer. Does anyone have any tips, tricks, or methods that helped them? I would love any advice available!! Thank you in advance. :)

The problem I am currently on, and where I have gotten in the problem is as follows:

Original Problem: 241.73 /9.3

*Move the decimals of each number to make each number whole. (2 decimal places to the right)

24173./930.

*Two goes into nine, four times. I put a four at the top and multiplied the four and two, to get 8.

*I subtracted the 8 from the nine and got one on the bottom.

*I then went to divide 4 into 3 and wasn't able to, so I added a zero and made it 30 instead of 3.

Am I supposed to be doing each number separate? I am thoroughly confused. I can do a division problem of fractions in half of a second... but give me a decimal and I will stare at it for hours without a clue!!:confused:

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Looks like you're on the right track as far as clearing the decimals.

Where it went wrong is with that number on the bottom - you want to see how many times it goes into the top #. Not the other way around. Also, don't do one number at a time. See how many times 930 goes into 2417, and take it from there...

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you don't have to clear the dividend, just the devisor. Move the decimal one place 2417.3 divided by 93

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Specializes in Forensics, Trauma, Pediatrics,.

Thank you so much for the help! I'm going to retry the problem tomorrow. I have a question to accompany this topic. I was told by a friend of mine in an RN program in another state that in her case, the instructors want them to know that you move the decimals, but that after that point it is okay to use a calculator. Since I just started the program I haven't had the chance to ask my instructor. What is the general rule when it comes to calculators in NS? I see RNs using them all the time at the med cart, but am not real sure what the official ruling is on calculators. Are we expected to completely write out the problems, such as the one I had problems with?

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The general rule is it depends on your program. We use calculators in ours. But I know students in a program where they have to do it by hand during the first two semesters.

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