What is 1 divided by 0.2?

To find out what 1 divided by 0.2 is, we can approach it step by step. When you divide a number by a decimal, it can sometimes be easier to convert the decimal into a whole number. In this case, 0.2 can be expressed as a fraction or a whole number by multiplying both the numerator and denominator by 10.

Breaking Down the Division

So, let’s rewrite the division:

1 divided by 0.2 can be transformed into:

1 ÷ 0.2 = 1 ÷ (2/10)

Using the Reciprocal

When dividing by a fraction, you can multiply by its reciprocal. The reciprocal of 2/10 is 10/2. Therefore:

1 ÷ (2/10) = 1 × (10/2)

Calculating the Result

Now, let’s perform the multiplication:

1 × (10/2) = 10/2 = 5

Final Answer

Thus, 1 divided by 0.2 equals 5. This means that if you have 1 whole unit and you want to see how many 0.2 units fit into it, you can fit five 0.2 units into 1.

Visualizing the Concept

To visualize this, think of it like having a whole pizza. If you cut that pizza into 5 equal slices, each slice would represent 0.2 of the whole pizza. So, you can see that you can indeed fit five slices of 0.2 into one whole pizza.

In summary, 1 divided by 0.2 equals 5, and this can be understood through the process of converting the decimal into a fraction and using multiplication by the reciprocal. This method not only simplifies the calculation but also helps in grasping the concept of division involving decimals.