Here the number of digits in the dividend is −3, and in the divisor −1.
The difference is −2; but as the result is obtained with the slide to
the right, this result must be increased by 1, so that the number of
digits in the quotient is −2 + 1 = −1, giving the answer as 0·013.
If preferred, the result can be obtained in the manner referred to when
considering the multiplication of decimals. Thus, treating the above as
whole numbers, we find that the result of dividing 221 by 17 = 13, since
the difference in the number of digits in the factors, which is 1, is,
owing to the position of the slide, increased by 1, giving 2 as the
number of digits in the answer. Then by the rules for the division of
decimals we know that the number of decimal places in the quotient is
equal to 6 − 3 = 3, showing that a cypher is to be prefixed to the
result read on the rule.