What happens to the decimal point when dividing by 10, 100, or 1000?

When dividing a number by 10, 100, or 1000, the decimal point moves to the left. This occurs because division by these factors effectively reduces the value of the number, and moving the decimal point to the left achieves that by indicating a smaller quantity.

For example, if you divide 25.0 by 10, you would move the decimal point one place to the left, resulting in 2.5. If you divide by 100, the decimal moves two places to the left, turning 25.0 into 0.25. And for division by 1000, it moves three places to the left, altering 25.0 to 0.025.

This principle applies consistently, demonstrating how dividing by powers of ten effectively shifts the decimal and adjusts the magnitude of the number in a straightforward manner.