Question

emilio is dividing 2.35 ÷ 5. why does he exchange the place - value blocks shown for 20 tenths and 35 hundredths?
choose the correct answer below
a. it is unknown why emilio exchanged the blocks this way. 20 tenths and 35 hundredths cannot be divided into 5 equal shares
b. twenty tenths and 35 hundredths can be divided into 5 equal shares, but it would have been better to exchange the blocks for 235 hundredths
c. emilio exchanges the blocks because 20 tenths and 35 hundredths can be divided into 5 equal shares

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Claims 20 tenths and 35 hundredths can't be divided into 5 equal shares, but 20 tenths ÷5 = 4 tenths and 35 hundredths ÷5 = 7 hundredths, so this is wrong.
• Option B: Says it would be better to exchange for 235 hundredths, but the question is why he exchanged for 20 tenths and 35 hundredths. This doesn't answer the "why" about his choice.
• Option C: Since 20 tenths (2.0) and 35 hundredths (0.35) make 2.35, and 20÷5 = 4 tenths, 35÷5 = 7 hundredths, so 20 tenths and 35 hundredths can be divided into 5 equal shares, which explains why he exchanged the blocks.

Answer:

C. Emilio exchanges the blocks because 20 tenths and 35 hundredths can be divided into 5 equal shares