(1) \( 0 . 0 7 \longdiv { 4 . 2 } \)

Did you know long division has been used for centuries to solve mathematical problems? The method dates back to ancient civilizations, including the Babylonians and the Egyptians, who had their own ways of dividing numbers, albeit much more complex than our modern techniques. Long division simplifies the process and makes it easier to handle decimal numbers, such as when dividing \( 0.07 \) by \( 4.2 \). In practical applications, understanding how to divide decimals can help in fields like finance, where precise calculations are vital. For instance, if you want to find out how much each person pays when sharing a bill of \( 0.07 \) among \( 4.2 \) people (which is a quirky scenario!), using long division lets you determine individual shares. It's all about getting that accurate result!