Interpreting the Quotient

In this lesson you learn to solve problems by interpreting the quotient.

What is the quotient?

After you divide, you will need to do one of the following three things, depending on what you are being asked:

  1. Drop the decimal part of the quotient and use the whole number answer.
  1. Round the quotient up to the next highest whole number.
  1. Use the entire quotient as the answer.

Examples:

Kim will use 0.87 kg of corn starch to make gift bags of slime for her friends. If each bag requires 0.15 kg of corn starch, how many bags of slime can she make?

This question is asking how many whole bags of slime can be made when the corn starch is divided into groups of 0.15.

0.87 ÷ 0.15 =

There is not enough corn starch to make 6 bags of slime so in this example the decimal part of the quotient will not be used, it will be dropped.

There are 246 students in sixth grade. If Ms. Lee buys rolls of film with 24 exposures each, how many rolls will she need to take every student’s picture?

246 ÷ 24 =

If Ms. Lee buys ten rolls of film is that enough? Can you buy 0.25 rolls of film? Ms. Lee will need to buy another roll of film. In this example the quotient must be rounded up to the next highest whole number.

Mary is drawing a time line of the Stone Age , she plans for 6 equal sections, two each for the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods. If she has 7.8 meters of paper, how long is each section?

7.8 ÷ 6 =

The question states that there will be 6 equal sections, you need an exact answer, in this example we would use the entire quotient.

DIVIDE. THEN DECIDE WHICH ONE OF THE 3 OPTIONS YOU WOULD DO FOR YOUR FINAL ANSWER.

Miranda is decorating for a party. She has 13 balloons and 29.25 meters of ribbon. She wants to tie the same length of ribbon on each balloon. How long will each ribbon be?

Julius is supplying cups for a party of 136 people. If cups are sold in packs of 24 how many packs will be needed?

There is 0.454 kg of super fertilizer in a container. How many 0.028 kg portions are in one container?

Kay is making beaded belts for her friends; she has 6.5 meters of cord. One belt uses 0.625 meters of cord. How many belts can she make?

Bobby’s goal is to run 27 miles a week. If he runs the same distance 6 days a week, how many miles would he have to runeach day?