Divide 20 by half.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking us to perform a division operation where 20 is divided by half (0.5). This requires us to understand that dividing by half is equivalent to multiplying by 2.
Answer
$40$
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is $40$.
Steps to Solve
-
Recognize the operation
The problem states that we need to divide 20 by half (0.5). We know that dividing by a fraction (like 0.5) is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. The reciprocal of 0.5 is 2. -
Set up the multiplication
Instead of dividing by 0.5, we will multiply 20 by 2:
$$ 20 \div 0.5 = 20 \times 2 $$ -
Perform the calculation
Now, we multiply:
$$ 20 \times 2 = 40 $$
The final answer is $40$.
More Information
Dividing by a fraction can be tricky sometimes. However, understanding that dividing by 0.5 is actually like multiplying by 2 helps clear up any confusion. This is a valuable lesson in understanding division with fractions.
Tips
- A common mistake is to mistakenly perform the division and not recognize that dividing by 0.5 is equivalent to multiplying by 2.
To avoid this, remember that dividing by a fraction involves using its reciprocal.
