Why multiply both numbers by 100 when the divisor is 0.12?

The divisor 0.12 carries two decimal places, so turning it into 12 means multiplying by 100. The dividend has to grow by the same factor or the quotient changes.

When do the trailing zeros go?

A zero at the end of a decimal only holds a place: 10.00 is 10 and 0.720 is 0.72. Keeping the zeros during the working still helps avoid borrowing errors.

Primary 5 Maths: Four Operations with Decimals — Practice Paper 2 (10 Questions)

2026-10-29

Tutor Prep Guide · Primary Maths

Paper 2 raises the level: multiplication and division where both numbers carry decimals, a bracketed mixed item, and a sharing problem that needs division. Same four steps, and still estimate before you calculate.

Quick answer　10 questions, about 25 minutes. Items 04, 06 and 07 test scaling both numbers, item 08 has brackets, item 09 tests reading the unit and item 10 is the commonest slip. Mark after finishing.

01　Paper details (check answers afterwards)

Item	Detail
Questions	10 questions
Suggested time	25 minutes
Difficulty mix	Foundation 4 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 2 · Error redo 1
Chapter	Chapter: Primary 5 Maths: Four Operations with Decimals — Tutor Lesson Plan
Level	Primary 5

02　Questions (10 items)

Foundation8.4 + 15.75 = ?
Foundation20 − 7.35 = ?
Foundation1.25 × 8 = ?
Foundation18 ÷ 0.6 = ?
Intermediate0.45 × 1.6 = ?
Intermediate0.72 ÷ 0.12 = ?
Intermediate5.6 ÷ 0.08 = ?
Challenge(12.5 − 3.75) × 2.4 = ? (brackets first; estimate the size first)
Challenge2.5 kg of sugar is packed into bags of 0.25 kg. How many bags?
Error redo0.048 ÷ 0.6 = ? (common slip: turning only the divisor into 6 and answering 0.008)

03　Answers and one-line notes

#	Answer	One-line note
1	24.15	Pad 8.4 to 8.40, then add column by column with the points in one line.
2	12.65	Write 20 as 20.00 so there is something to borrow from; a bare 20 borrows wrongly.
3	10	As integers 125 × 8 = 1000, two decimal places gives 10.00, written 10.
4	30	One decimal place in the divisor, so multiply both by 10: 180 ÷ 6 = 30. Without padding the 18 the answer comes out 3.
5	0.72	45 × 16 = 720; the factors carry three decimal places in total, giving 0.720, written 0.72.
6	6	Two decimal places in the divisor, so multiply both by 100: 72 ÷ 12 = 6. Moving only the divisor gives 0.06.
7	70	Multiply both by 100: 560 ÷ 8 = 70. The divisor is below 1, so the answer must be larger than 5.6.
8	21	Inside the brackets 12.5 pads to 8.75; then 875 × 24 = 21000 with three decimal places gives 21. Estimating 9 × 2 = 18 first keeps it sane.
9	10 bags	How many 0.25s fit into 2.5 is a division: multiply both by 100 to get 250 ÷ 25 = 10 bags, a count, not a mass.
10	0.08	Multiply both by 10: 0.48 ÷ 6 = 0.08. The answer takes as many decimal places as the two numbers differ by.

04　What to do after marking

After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.

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