The Mystery Of 3 Divided By 200: Explained

Introduction

You may be wondering what the fuss is about 3 divided by 200, but the truth is that this simple mathematical problem has been the subject of much debate and confusion. Some people believe that the answer is 0.015, while others argue that it is 0.0150. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this confusion and offer some tips on how to approach similar problems.

The Basics of Division

Before we dive into the specifics of 3 divided by 200, it’s important to have a basic understanding of division. Division is the process of splitting a number into equal parts. For example, if we divide 10 by 2, we get 5 because 10 can be split into two equal parts of 5.

Dividing by Fractions

In some cases, we may need to divide by fractions instead of whole numbers. When we divide by a fraction, we actually multiply by its reciprocal. For example, if we want to divide 10 by 1/2, we can rewrite the problem as 10 x 2/1, which equals 20.

The Problem with 3 Divided by 200

Now, let’s turn our attention to 3 divided by 200. The problem here is that 200 is not a factor of 10, which means that we cannot use the basic division method we just discussed. Instead, we need to use long division or a calculator to find the answer.

Long Division

Long division is a method of dividing large numbers by hand. It involves breaking down the problem into smaller, more manageable steps. To divide 3 by 200 using long division, we would follow these steps: – Place the dividend (3) under the division symbol and the divisor (200) to the left of it. – Ask yourself, how many times does 200 fit into 3? The answer is 0, so write 0 above the dividend. – Subtract 0 x 200 from 3, which equals 3. – Bring down the next digit (0) and place it next to 3 to create the new dividend (30). – Ask yourself, how many times does 200 fit into 30? The answer is 0, so write 0 above the 0 in the dividend. – Subtract 0 x 200 from 30, which equals 30. – Bring down the next digit (0) and place it next to 30 to create the new dividend (300). – Ask yourself, how many times does 200 fit into 300? The answer is 1, so write 1 above the 0 in the dividend. – Multiply 1 x 200, which equals 200. – Subtract 200 from 300, which equals 100. – Bring down the next digit (0) and place it next to 100 to create the new dividend (1000). – Ask yourself, how many times does 200 fit into 1000? The answer is 5, so write 5 above the 0 in the dividend. – Multiply 5 x 200, which equals 1000. – Subtract 1000 from 1000, which equals 0.

The Answer

So, what is the answer to 3 divided by 200? According to our long division method, the answer is 0.015. However, some people argue that the answer should be 0.0150 because 0.015 only has three significant figures, while 0.0150 has four.

Significant Figures

Significant figures are the digits in a number that carry meaning in terms of its precision. For example, if we measure a length to be 3.14 cm, the 3 and 4 are significant figures because they give us information about the precision of the measurement. The 1, on the other hand, is not significant because it is just a placeholder.

Rounding

When we deal with significant figures, we often need to round our answers to the correct number of digits. In the case of 3 divided by 200, some people argue that rounding to four significant figures gives us 0.0150, while others argue that rounding to three significant figures gives us 0.015.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the answer to 3 divided by 200 depends on how we approach the problem and how we interpret the significance of the digits. Whether we round to three or four significant figures, the answer is still very small and may not have much practical significance. However, understanding the basics of division and significant figures can help us tackle more complex mathematical problems in the future.