Dividing Metric Unit

Dividing metric units

Steps for dividing metric units are not different from those of multiplication. The important thing to remember is the relationship between the metric units. The only difference is that when dividing metric units, we start from the largest to the smallest unit.

Example 1

Divide 3 m 84 cm 5 mm by 5.

Steps:

1. Arrange units of length in columns, then insert the division symbol. 5 3 84 5 m cm mm

2. Divide by considering the relationship of the units of length. For example: 1 m = 100 cm, 1 cm = 10 mm.

3. Divide 3 m by 5. It is not sufficient to get a whole number. Thus, write 0 in the metres column.

4. Remember 1 m = 100 cm; therefore, convert 3 m into cm by multiplying 3 by 100 to get 300 cm.

5. Add 300 cm to 84 cm to get 384 cm.

6. Divide 384 cm by 5 to get 76 cm and the remainder 4 cm.

7. Write 76 cm in the centimetres column.

8. Remember 1 cm = 10 mm thus, convert 4 cm that remained in step 6 into mm by multiplying 4 cm by 10 to get 40 mm.

9. Add 40 mm and 5 mm to get 45 mm.

10. Divide 45 mm by 5 to get 9 mm.

11. Write 9 mm in the millimetres column.

Therefore, the answer is 0 m 76 cm 9 mm or 76 cm and 9 mm.

Example 2

Divide 48 kg 564 g by 6.

Steps:

1. Consider the relationships between metric units of mass. Example: 1 kg = 1000 g.

2. Divide 48 kg by 6. The answer is 8 kg.

3. Write 8 kg in the kilograms column.

4. Divide 564 g by 6. The answer is 94 g.

5. Write 94 g in the grams column.

Therefore, the answer is 8 kg 94 g.