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      Explain the removal of placeholders when dividing whole numbers by 100

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use place value to explain removing the final 2 zeros from a multiple of 100 when we divide by 100

      Key learning points

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

      Keywords

      • 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 misconception

      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.

      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.

      Teacher tip

      Make mistakes in the place value yourself whilst modelling and get the children to spot this. They will enjoy pointing out your mistakes! It helps them to firm up their error-spotting skills and consolidates their understanding.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the inverse operation of multiplication?

      Multiplication
      Correct answer: Division
      Addition
      Subtraction

      Q2.
      Which of the following expression would undo multiplying a number by 100?

      × 100
      Correct answer: ÷ 100
      + 100
      − 100

      Q3.
      Match the numbers to the numbers that are one-tenth times the size.

      Correct Answer:80,8

      8

      Correct Answer:40,4

      4

      Correct Answer:30,3

      3

      Correct Answer:110,11

      11

      Q4.
      What is the missing number in the following equation? 7 = ÷ 10

      Correct Answer: 70

      Q5.
      What is the missing number in the following equation? 27 = ÷ 10

      Correct Answer: 270

      Q6.
      True or false: If you divide a number by 10 it becomes one-tenth the size.

      Correct answer: True
      False

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the missing operation and number in the image shown?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: × 100
      ÷ 100
      × 10
      ÷ 10

      Q2.
      What is the missing operation and number in the image shown?

      An image in a quiz
      × 100
      Correct answer: ÷ 100
      × 10
      ÷ 10

      Q3.
      What is one-hundredth times the size of 800?

      Correct Answer: 8

      Q4.
      What is one-hundredth times the size of 5,600?

      Correct Answer: 56

      Q5.
      Which of the following describes the movement of digits on a place value chart when multiple of 100 is divided by 100

      The digits move 2 places to the left.
      Correct answer: The digits move 2 places to the right.
      The digits move 1 place to the left.
      The digits move 1 place to the right.

      Q6.
      True or false? To divide a multiple of 100 by 100 you subtract two zeros.

      True
      Correct answer: False

      To help you plan your 4 maths lesson on: Explain the removal of placeholders when dividing whole numbers by 100, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...