What is division?
Hello everyone! Today Tayo and I are starting our division journey. Let’s begin with the big question: what actually is division?
What is division?
Division means sharing or finding out how many times one number fits into another number.
Example:
20 ÷ 4 = 5
This means 4 fits into 20 exactly 5 times.
1. Division as sharing
Sharing means splitting a number into equal parts. If 20 strawberries are shared equally between 4 plates, each plate gets 5.
We deal them out one at a time, round and round, until none are left.
2. Division as grouping
Grouping means finding how many groups of a number fit. How many groups of 4 can we make from 20 strawberries? We can make 5 groups.
Both ways give the same answer: 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
Division and multiplication are a team
Every division fact has a multiplication fact hiding inside it. If 4 × 5 = 20, then 20 ÷ 4 = 5 and 20 ÷ 5 = 4.
- Dividend
- The number being divided (20).
- Divisor
- The number we divide by (4).
- Quotient
- The answer (5).
- Remainder
- What is left over when a number does not divide exactly.
So when you see the ÷ sign, you can ask yourself: “How many in each share?” or “How many groups?”. Both questions lead to the same answer.
Practise
Answer as many as you like. Every question is new, and you get a “correct” tick for each one you get right first time.
Quiz: earn your stamp
Printable worksheet
What is division? worksheet. The questions are on the first page, and the answers for grown-ups are on the last page, so you can print just the first page for your child.
Printing is optional. A4 size.