"I don't get why we teach dividing a whole number or decimal by a decimal. I can't think of any real world times I would need to do this and not use a calculator."
I would submit that some amount of division by decimal quantities needs to be taught, but I think we focus on it for the wrong reasons.
I am far more interested that children get an understanding of what happens when you divide by a fraction (decimal or otherwise). Without some experience it will be difficult to ascertain the very important truths about how numbers work. Why is it for instance that dividing by .56 yields a very different result, scale wise, than dividing by 56. These concepts are hard fought.
Reply
Andy Zsiga
6/3/2014 03:36:10 pm
Good question. Dividing with decimals is needed to truly understand how the number system works, and to be able to know if your calculated answer makes sense. The ability to divide with decimals allows one to be able to reason with the answer the calculator gave them.
Reply
James Helak
10/8/2014 05:21:25 am
You are teaching concepts and understandings much deeper than "the answer." Concepts like what out numbering system is, place value, divisibility, in addition to reinforcing the single digit math facts that so many students don't have because teachers didn't bother to teach them because they "will just use a calculator in real life."