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Year 4 - Maths

Explain the removal of placeholders when dividing whole numbers by 100

Understand what happens when a number is multiplied or divided by 10 and 100

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils will explain the relationship between multiplying and dividing a number by 10 and multiples of 10.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use place value to explain removing the final 2 zeros from a multiple of 100 when we divide by 100.

Key Notes

  • Dividing by one hundred moves all the digits two columns to the right making them one hundredth times the size.
  • Multiples of 100 have zero in the tens and ones column.
  • If you divide a multiple of 100 by 100, digits move two places right and the zeros in the ones and tens disappear.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Scaling: Scaling is when a given quantity is made ___ times the size.
  • Inverse: Inverse means the opposite in effect. The reverse of.
  • Magnitude: A placeholder is where we use the digit zero to hold a place in a number and maintain place value.
  • Placeholder: The magnitude of a number is its distance from zero.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Many pupils believe that 'subtracting 2 zeros' is dividing by 100 which can lead to difficulties later on when they are introduced to decimal numbers.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.

Dividing by one hundred moves all the digits two columns to the right making them one hundredth times the size. Multiples of 100 have zero in the tens and ones column.

2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Scaling'

Scaling is when a given quantity is made ___ times the size. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.

3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.

Mistake: Many pupils believe that 'subtracting 2 zeros' is dividing by 100 which can lead to difficulties later on when they are introduced to decimal numbers. Correction: Don't dismiss it. It's a pattern that has been spotted and generalised. Do encourage the children to work with physical resources that don't involve the numbers themselves so they can see that it's not subtracting 2 zeros but changing place value.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 4 Maths guide library.