Unlock the secret to making division easy, even when your answer is a decimal, with our latest blog post!
This post includes five sample problems to enhance your child’s understanding right from the start.
Dividing large numbers, especially when the result is a decimal, can be incredibly challenging for children. Many students struggle with this concept, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in their math skills.
Without mastering this essential skill, children may face significant difficulties in more advanced math topics, impacting their overall academic performance. The complexity of dividing large numbers and dealing with decimals can make math feel overwhelming and unattainable.
Our article is designed to make division easy by teaching a variety of effective strategies. In our blog post, your child will:
- Discover Effective Strategies: Learn multiple methods to ensure success when dividing large numbers, even when the answer is a decimal.
- Build Confidence: Step-by-step lessons will help your child overcome challenges and master division.
- Achieve Long-term Success: A solid grasp of division is crucial for future mathematical success.
This is the sixth article in a series of seven, each providing a complete lesson on division. Visit our website (https://www.teachersdungeon.com/) for a comprehensive educational program designed to help kids become proficient in mathematics. By mastering these strategies, your child will gain a deeper, more concrete understanding of division, paving the way for a successful educational journey. Don’t miss out on this valuable resource—empower your child’s learning today!
If you have not read the first article, you can click here to read why my strategies are so very successful. In this sixth article we will focus on four digit numbers divided when your answer is a decimal. Every problem has its own video tutorial, offering immediate online tutoring for your child.
When you complete this article, click here to move to the next lesson, How to do Long Division – Dividing a Decimal by a Decimal.
533 ÷ 82 = 6.5
The strategy of counting by the numbers is designed specifically for children who do NOT know their multiplication facts. My goal is for children is to memorize their multiplication facts. However, until they know all their facts, they need a strategy. Counting by the numbers is the easiest strategy to learn. Therefore, I have added counting by the numbers to the end of each and every video. Children who do not know all their multiplication facts should watch and count with me at the end of each of these videos until they can count by all the number on their own. Repetition of this strategy will help in all areas of math that require multiplication. Once a child knows all their multiplication facts, they can stop the videos after the problem is solved and before Counting by the Numbers begins.
I have scaffold the problems in each lesson.
The first problem in this article is a “Watch Me” problem. The second is a “Work with Me” problem. All the rest are “On Your Own” problems.
*If your child needs a bit more support, they should complete the “On Your Own” problems as a “Work with Me” problem. I have a number of students with gaps in their learning and others with a variety of learning disabilities. I have had incredible success, by having those students complete 5 to 7 problems within each lesson as a “Work with Me” problem. They play a bit of the video, then pause it and copy, then watch a bit more, pause it and copy. My students Play – Pause – and Copy until the entire problem is solved. This is like having a personal tutor working through each and every problem with your child. Every one of my students who has used this strategy has passed the Common Core Proficiency Exam.
How to do Long Division with Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 1
Watch Me
Rock Climbing on a Sunny Day
Scaling the Heights!
You are an expert rock climber! ️ Your favorite way to spend a sunny day is climbing a challenging escarpment. This rock face is 533 feet high, and you climb to the top in just 82 minutes.
❓ On average, how many feet do you climb per minute?
Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!
Press PLAY and Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video below. Then copy these strategies into your notes!
How to do Long Division with Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 2
Work With Me
Cloud Eating Camel
The Cloud-Eating Camel!
You are a scientist studying the strange phenomenon of camels eating clouds. ️ This particular camel has eaten 108 clouds in just 48 hours.
❓ On average, how many clouds did this camel eat per hour?
Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!
Gather your materials and press PLAY. We’ll solve this problem together, while you watch the math tutorial video below.
Case Study: How One Student Conquered Long Division with Decimals — and Gained Confidence!
Long division can be a tough mountain to climb — especially when decimal answers are involved. For many upper elementary students, this topic feels overwhelming and abstract. But with the right support, even the most reluctant learners can turn things around. Let’s take a look at how Jaden, a 5th-grade student, did exactly that.
The Problem: “I Just Don’t Get It!”
Jaden was bright and curious, but every time long division showed up — especially when the answer wasn’t a whole number — frustration would follow. He’d freeze when he saw decimal points and often left problems unfinished. His confidence was at an all-time low, and traditional classroom explanations just weren’t clicking.
The Shift: A New Way to Learn
That’s when Jaden’s teacher introduced him to our step-by-step video tutorials — using the “Watch Me, Work With Me, On Your Own” method built into The Teacher’s Dungeon.
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Watch Me: Jaden watched a video showing exactly how to divide whole numbers when the answer is a decimal. The concept of extending the division bar and placing a decimal in the quotient finally made sense.
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✍️ Work With Me: Next, he followed along with a guided practice video. He paused and played as needed, working through each step side-by-side with the instructor.
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On Your Own: With new confidence, Jaden tackled a similar problem by himself. This time, he didn’t panic — he solved it!
The Result: From Frustration to Mastery
Within a week, Jaden had completed five long division problems involving decimals — correctly. He even started explaining his process to classmates, a huge shift from the quiet, unsure student he had been.
His teacher noted:
“The structured support helped Jaden finally see the logic behind division with decimals. Now he actually enjoys the challenge!”
✅ Why This Method Works
The “Watch Me, Work With Me, On Your Own” framework builds independence while providing just the right amount of scaffolding. It allows students to:
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Learn at their own pace
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Build procedural fluency with visual support
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Gain confidence through repetition and small wins
How to do Long Division with Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 3
On Your Own
Nectar Guzzling Hummingbird
The Hummingbird’s Nectar Feast!
As an ornithologist, you study birds all day long—their songs, flights, and habits. Today, you are observing a beautiful hummingbird. ✨ This tiny bird has sipped 703 milligrams of nectar in just 76 hours.
❓ On average, how many milligrams of nectar has the bird consumed per hour?
Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!
Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below. Good Luck!
How to do Long Division with Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 4
On Your Own
Praying Mantis to the Rescue
The Praying Mantis vs. the Insect Invasion!
You and your family just moved to a house surrounded by a deep forest. But there’s a problem—your yard is full of wasps, crickets, beetles, and black widow spiders! To fight back, you get 28 praying mantises.
There are 462 insects in total.
❓ If each mantis eats the same number of insects, how many does each mantis eat?
Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!
Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below. Good Luck!
How to do Long Division with Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 5
On Your Own
Tiffany Tiger
Tiffany Tiger’s Thirsty Tongue!
Tiffany the tiger is so thirsty! She drinks 250 ounces of water using 40 laps of her tongue.
❓ If she gets the same amount of water with each lap, how many ounces does she drink per lap?
Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!
Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below. Good Luck!
Final Thought
If your child or student is struggling with long division — especially when decimals enter the picture — try this layered approach. It turns confusion into clarity and fear into progress.
Check out our interactive math tutorials at The Teacher’s Dungeon.
At Teacher’s Dungeon, every math question is linked to a step-by-step video tutorial that makes learning clear, engaging, and frustration-free. Plus, when you join the game, you’ll receive all of my math strategy books — completely FREE! These resources work hand-in-hand with the game to give students the support they need to thrive in 3rd through 6th grade math.
You’ll be amazed at what your child can achieve with the right tools and guidance.
Thank you for another simple way to do division, I’ve had troubles solving big division problems, especially when their answer is a decimal, this video clears up the process thank you!