Division

Over the next while, the boys will be concentrating on division in both their maths class, and in their homework.


Division is splitting into equal parts or groups.It is the result of "fair sharing".



Example: there are 12 chocolates, and 3 friends want to share them, how do they divide the chocolates?


12 Chocolates 

12 Chocolates Divided by 3

Answer: 12 divided by 3 is 4: they get 4 each.








Symbols     ÷      /

We use the ÷ symbol, or sometimes the / symbol to mean divide:

Let's use both symbols here so we get used to them.

12 ÷ 3 = 4

12 / 3 = 4



Opposite of Multiplying 
Division is the opposite of multiplying. When we know a multiplication fact we can find a division fact:

Example: 3 × 5 = 15, so 15 / 5 = 3.

Also 15 / 3 = 5.


Why? Well, think of the numbers in rows and columns like in this illustration:

Multiplication......Division 


3 groups of 5 make 15...so 15 divided by 3 is 5  and also:
5 groups of 3 make 15...so 15 divided by 5 is 3.   


So there are four related facts:

• 3 × 5 = 15
• 5 × 3 = 15
• 15 / 3 = 5
• 15 / 5 = 3

      Knowing your Multiplication Tables can                     help you with division!


Example: What is 28 ÷ 7 ?

Searching around the multiplication table we find that 28 is 4 × 7, so 28 divided by 7 must be 4.

Answer: 28 ÷ 7 = 4

One of the easiest ways of checking your answer is correct in division is by using the subtraction method. In fact, we can say that division is simply repeated subtraction. it also allows us to see if there is any left over the the end of the sum, as the remainder.

Check out the diagram below for an easy look at this method. :)

*credit to mathsisfun.com - for more information, check out some of the problems on their page! :)