Change the decimals to the form whole number ×10a Where the power (a) is the number of times you have to move the decimal point in order to get a whole number When you move to the right, the power is negative and when you move to the left, the power is positive 0.00492=492×10−5 (The decimal point has to be moved five (5) times to the right) 0.041=41×10−3 (The decimal point has to be moved three (3) times to the right) From the law of indices am∕an=am−n 0.00492∕0.041=492×10−5∕41×10−3 41 goes into 492, 12 times 10−5∕10−3=10−5−(−3) from the law of indices 492×10−5∕41×10−3=12×10−5−(−3) -- or -(-) = + 12×10−5−(−3)=12×10−5+3=12×10−2 Now change the form back to decimals by moving to the left the number of times of the power (2) NOTE: we moved to the left because the power is negative (-2) 12=12.0 If you move the decimal two (2) times to the left, you will end up to 0.12