Dividing by 1000: Step-by-Step Example
22 October 2026
Dividing by 1000 can seem tricky at first, but it becomes much easier when you use place value. Here is a clear example to show what happens to each digit when you divide by 1000.
Worked example
5600 ÷ 1000
First, look at the digits in 5600. When we divide by 1000, each digit moves three places to the right.
So, 5 moves from the thousands place to the units place. 6 moves from the hundreds place to the tenths place. 0 moves from the tens place to the hundredths place. The last 0 moves from the units place to the thousandths place.
Write the number with a decimal point: 5.6
The correct answer is 5.6.
After seeing this example, your child will spot how dividing by 1000 moves every digit three places to the right. This makes it simpler to tackle similar questions in the 11+ Maths: Multiplying and Dividing by 10, 100 and 1000 section.
