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How to Do Division
Last Updated: May 23, 2023 References
This article was co-authored by Grace Imson, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD . Grace Imson is a math teacher with over 40 years of teaching experience. Grace is currently a math instructor at the City College of San Francisco and was previously in the Math Department at Saint Louis University. She has taught math at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels. She has an MA in Education, specializing in Administration and Supervision from Saint Louis University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 321,398 times.
Division is one of the 4 major operations in arithmetic, alongside addition, subtraction, and multiplication. In addition to whole numbers, you can divide decimals, fractions, or exponents. You can do long division or, if one of the numbers is a single digit, short division. Start by mastering long division, though, because it is the key to the entire operation.
Long Division
- Sample problem #1 (beginner): 65 ÷ 5 . Place the 5 outside the division bar, and the 65 inside it. It should look like 5厂65 , but with the 65 underneath the horizontal line.
- Sample problem #2 (intermediate): 136 ÷ 3 . Place the 3 outside the division bar, and the 136 inside it. It should look like 3厂136 , but with the 136 underneath the horizontal line.
- In sample problem #1 ( 5厂65 ), 5 is the divisor and 6 is the first digit of the dividend (65). 5 goes into 6 one time, so place a 1 on the top of the divisor bar, aligned above the 6.
- In sample problem #2 ( 3厂136 ), 3 (the divisor) does not go into 1 (the first digit of the dividend) and result in a whole number. In this case, write a 0 above the division bar, aligned above the 1.
- In sample problem #1 ( 5厂65 ), multiply the number above the bar (1) by the divisor (5), which results in 1 x 5 = 5 , and place the answer (5) just below the 6 in 65.
- In sample problem #2 ( 3厂136 ), there is a zero above the division bar, so when you multiply this by 3 (the divisor), your result is zero. Write a zero on a new line just below the 1 in 136.
- In sample problem #1 ( 5厂65 ), subtract the 5 (the multiplication result in the new row) from the 6 right above it (the first digit of the dividend): 6 - 5 = 1 . Place the result (1) in another new row right below the 5.
- In sample problem #2 ( 3厂136 ), subtract 0 (the multiplication result in the new row) from the 1 right above it (the first digit in the dividend). Place the result (1) in another new row right below the 0.
- In sample problem #1 ( 5厂65 ), drop the 5 from 65 down so that it’s beside the 1 that you got from subtracting 5 from 6. This gives you 15 in this row.
- In sample problem #2 ( 3厂136 ), carry down the 3 from 136 and place it beside the 1, giving you 13.
- To continue 5厂65 , divide 5 (the dividend) into the new number (15), and write the result (3, since 15 ÷ 5 = 3 ) to the right of the 1 above the division bar. Then, multiply this 3 above the bar by 5 (the dividend) and write the result (15, since 3 x 5 = 15 ) below the 15 under the division bar. Finally, subtract 15 from 15 and write 0 in a new bottom row.
- Sample problem #1 is now complete, since there are no more digits in the divisor to carry down. Your answer (13) is above the division bar.
- For 3厂136 : Determine how many times 3 goes into 13, and write the answer (4) to the right of the 0 above the division bar. Then, multiply 4 by 3 and write the answer (12) below the 13. Finally, subtract 12 from 13 and write the answer (1) below the 12.
- For 3厂136 : Continue the process for another round. Drop down the 6 from 136, making 16 in the bottom row. Divide 3 into 16, and write the result (5) above the division line. Multiply 5 by 3, and write the result (15) in a new bottom row. Subtract 15 from 16, and write the result (1) in a new bottom row.
- Because there are no more digits to carry down in the dividend, you’re done with the problem and the 1 on the bottom line is the remainder (the amount left over). Write it above the division bar with an “r.” in front of it, so that your final answer reads “45 r.1”.
Short Division
- In order to do short division , your divisor can't have more than one digit.
- Sample problem: 518 ÷ 4 . In this case, the 4 will be outside the division bar, and the 518 inside it.
- In the sample problem, 4 (the divisor) goes into 5 (the first digit of the dividend) 1 time, with a remainder of 1 ( 5 ÷ 4 = 1 r.1 ). Place the quotient, 1, above the long division bar. Place a small, superscript 1 beside the 5, to remind yourself that you had a remainder of 1.
- The 518 under the bar should now look like this: 5 1 18.
- In the sample problem, the number formed by the remainder and the second number of the dividend is 11. The divisor, 4, goes into 11 twice, leaving a remainder of 3 ( 11 ÷ 4 = 2 r.3 ). Write the 2 above the division line (giving you 12) and the 3 as a superscript number beside the 1 in 518.
- The original dividend, 518, should now look like this: 5 1 1 3 8.
- In the sample problem, the next (and final) dividend number is 38—the remainder 3 from the previous step, and the number 8 as the last term of the dividend. The divisor, 4, goes into 38 nine times with a remainder of 2 ( 38 ÷ 4 = 9 r.2 ), because 4 x 9 = 36 , which is 2 short of 38. Write this final remainder (2) above the division bar to complete your answer.
- Therefore, your final answer above the division bar is 129 r.2.
Dividing Fractions
- Your problem might be, for example, 3/4 ÷ 5/8 . For convenience, use horizontal instead of diagonal lines to separate the numerator (top number) and denominator (bottom number) of each fraction.
- In the sample problem, reverse 5/8 so the 8 is on top and the 5 is on the bottom.
- For example: 3/4 x 8/5 .
- In this case, the numerators are 3 and 8, and 3 x 8 = 24 .
- The denominators are 4 and 5 in the sample problem, and 4 x 5 = 20 .
- In the sample problem, then, 3/4 x 8/5 = 24/20 .
- 24: 1, 2, 3, 4 , 6, 8, 12, 24
- 20: 1, 2, 4 , 5, 10, 20
- 24/20 = 6/5 . Therefore, 3/4 ÷ 5/8 = 6/5
- In the sample problem, 5 goes into 6 one time with a remainder of 1. Therefore, the new whole number is 1, the new numerator is 1, and the denominator remains 5.
- As a result, 6/5 = 1 1/5 .
Dividing Exponents
- As a beginner, start with a sample problem in which both numbers with exponents already have the same base—for instance, 3 8 ÷ 3 5 .
- In the sample problem: 8 - 5 = 3 .
- Therefore: 3 8 ÷ 3 5 = 3 3 .
Dividing Decimals
- For the example 65.5 ÷ 0.5 , 0.5 goes outside the division bar, and 65.5 goes inside it.
- In the sample problem, you only need to move the decimal point over one spot for both the divisor and dividend. So, 0.5 becomes 5, and 65.5 becomes 655.
- If, however, the sample problem used 0.5 and 65.55, you’d need to move the decimal point 2 places in 65.55, making it 6555. As a result, you’d also have to move the decimal point in 0.5 2 places. To do this, you’d add a zero to the end and make it 50.
- In the sample problem, the decimal in 655 would appear after the last 5 (as 655.0). So, write the decimal point above the division line right above where that decimal point in 655 would appear.
- Divide 5 into the hundredths digit, 6. You get 1 with a remainder of 1. Place 1 in the hundredths place on top of the long division bar, and subtract 5 from 6 below the number six.
- Your remainder, 1, is left over. Carry the first five in 655 down to create the number 15. Divide 5 into 15 to get 3. Place the three above the long division bar, next to the 1.
- Carry down the last 5. Divide 5 into 5 to get 1, and place the 1 on top of the long division bar. There is no remainder, since 5 goes into 5 evenly.
- The answer is the number above the long division bar (131), so 655 ÷ 5 = 131 . If you pull out a calculator, you’ll see that this is also the answer to the original division problem, 65.5 ÷ 0.5 .
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- ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/long_division.html
- ↑ https://www.k5learning.com/blog/step-step-guide-long-division
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/znmtsbk/articles/zqpddp3
- ↑ http://www.mathsisfun.com/fractions_division.html
- ↑ https://www.ck12.org/arithmetic/divide-fractions/lesson/Quotients-of-Fractions-MSM6/?referrer=concept_details
- ↑ http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/variables-exponents-multiply.html
- ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/dividing-decimals.html
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zh7xpv4/articles/zwdc4xs
About This Article
To do simple division, think about how many times one number can go into another number. For example, 6 ÷ 2 is 3, because 3 goes into 6 two times. For larger numbers, it's helpful to spend time reviewing the multiplication tables. To do long division, write the number you want to divide under the division bar, and place the number you want to divide by outside of the bar. For example, if you want to calculate 72 ÷ 3, place 72 under the division bar and 3 outside of it. Then, calculate how many times 3 goes into the first number under the division bar. In this case, you’re calculating how many times 3 goes into 7. The answer is 2, with 1 left over. Write the number 2 above the bar, and the remainder – in this case, 1 – below the 7. Then, if there are any numbers left under the division bar, bring them down to the same row as the remainder. So in this case, you’d write a 2 beside the 1 to get 12. Then, repeat the process: how many times does 3 go into 12? In this example, 3 goes into 12 four times, so you’d write 4 on the line above the problem, beside the other numbers. Therefore, 72 ÷ 3 = 24. If you want to learn how to divide fractions, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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How to Solve Division Problems
Parts of a division problem.
What Is a Remainder in Math?
Divide Two Numbers
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The division is one of the four basic mathematical operations, the other three being addition, subtraction, and multiplication. In simple words, division can be defined as the splitting of a large group into smaller groups such that every group will have an equal number of items. It is an operation used for equal grouping and equal sharing in math. Let us learn about division operation in math in detail in this article.
What is Division?
The division is one of the basic arithmetic operations in math in which a larger number is broken down into smaller groups having the same number of items. For example, for a sports event, if 30 students need to be divided into groups of 5 students, then how many total groups will be formed? Such problems can be solved easily using the division operation. Here we need to divide 30 by 5. The result will be 30 ÷ 5 = 6. So, there will be 6 groups of 5 students in each. You can verify this value by multiplying 6 and 5, which will give you the original number, 30.
Division Definition
The division is the process of repetitive subtraction . It is the inverse of the multiplication operation. It is defined as the act of forming equal groups. While dividing numbers, we break down a larger number into smaller numbers such that the multiplication of those smaller numbers will be equal to the larger number taken. For example, 4 ÷ 2 = 2. This can be written as a multiplication fact as 2 × 2 = 4.
Division Symbol
The division is denoted by a mathematical symbol that consists of a small horizontal line with a dot each above and below the line. There are two basic division symbols that represent the division of two numbers. They are ÷ and /. For example, 4 ÷ 2 = 2, and 4/2 = 2.
Parts of Division
Parts of division mean the name of the terms associated with the division process. There are four parts of the division, which are dividend, divisor, quotient , and remainder. Let us look at an example of division given below and understand the meanings of these four parts of the division.
Here, when we divide 105 by 8, we get the values of a divisor, dividend, quotient, and remainder . Look at the table below to understand the meaning of these terms.
In the above image, it is written that "Dividend = Divisor × Quotient + Remainder". This equation satisfies the above values but will it be satisfying for values of dividend, divisor, quotient, and the remainder in every division? Let's find out.
Division Algorithm
The division algorithm is an equation that forms a relationship between all four parts of the division. In any division fact, the product of divisor and quotient added to the remainder is always equal to the value of the dividend. Thus, the general formula of division is: Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder . This is known as the division algorithm.
The above formula helps us to verify the values of quotient and remainder obtained after performing division. We can substitute the values of the quotient, remainder, and divisor in the above equation and check whether the result is the same as dividend or not. If we get the dividend, it means we have done the steps of division correctly. If not, it means there is an error in our calculations that we need to rectify. Let us take one example and see if it satisfies the above division algorithm or not. Divide 17 by 3. 17 divided by 3 will give us 5 as the quotient and 2 as the remainder.
Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder
17 = (3 × 5) + 2
17 = 15 + 2
Hence verified.
How to do Division?
One-digit division can be done using multiplication tables . For example, to solve 24 ÷ 6, we just need to see what we need to multiply by 6 to get 24 as the answer. Clearly, 6 × 4 = 24, therefore 24 ÷ 6 = 4. When it comes to the division of numbers with greater numbers, then we can use the long division method. Let us take the example of 65 divided by 5 to understand it. Follow the steps below to learn how to do division:
- Step 1: Draw the division symbol ⟌ and write divisor (5) on its left side and dividend (65) enclosed under this symbol.
- Step 2: Take the first digit of the dividend from the left (6). Check if this digit is greater than or equal to the divisor. [If the first digit of the dividend is less than the divisor, then we consider the first two digits of the dividend]
- Step 3: Then divide it by the divisor and write the answer on top as the quotient. Here, the quotient of 6 ÷ 5 is 1.
- Step 4: Subtract the product of the divisor and the digit written in the quotient (5 × 1) from the first digit of the dividend and write the difference below. Here, the difference is 6 - 5 = 1.
- Step 5: Bring down the next digit of the dividend (if present). The next digit in the dividend is 5.
- Step 6: Repeat the same process until you get the remainder, less than the divisor.
Look at the image given below showing the above steps of division.
Division with Remainders
It is not always mandatory to have 0 as the remainder. If the dividend is not a multiple of the divisor, then we get a non-zero remainder. When we get a non-zero remainder while dividing a number by another, it is known as a division with remainders. Let us take an example of distributing 9 balloons to 2 children equally such that both children will have an equal number of balloons with them. Is it possible to do that without getting a leftover?
Dividing 9 by 2 will give us 4 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. We can make 2 groups having 4 balloons in each but 1 balloon will be left. Look at the image below showing division with remainders (9 ÷ 2).
Go ahead and try out the following division questions and observe whether you get a non-zero remainder or not: 63 ÷ 9, 76 ÷ 13, 89 ÷ 8, 34 ÷ 5, and 27 ÷ 3.
Properties of Division
Now let us look at some of the properties of division operation that will help you understand this operation even better. Listed below are a few properties of division:
- Division by 1: Any number divided by 1 results in the number itself. In other words, if divisor = 1, then dividend = quotient.
- Division by 0: The value of a number divided by 0 is not defined, i.e. n/0 = not defined, where n is any number.
- Division by itself: If we divide a number by itself, we will always get 1 as the answer. In other words, if dividend = divisor, then quotient = 1.
- Division of 0 by any number: 0 divided by any number always results in 0. Some examples are 0 ÷ 4 = 0, 0 ÷ 9 = 0, 0 ÷ 5754 = 0, etc.
- Division by 10: If we divide a number by 10, then the digit at the ones place will always be the remainder and the remaining digits on the left will be the quotient. For example, 579 ÷ 10 = 57 R 9.
- Division by 100: If we divide a number by 100, then the number formed from the ones place and the tens place digits will always be the remainder and the remaining digits on the left will be the quotient. For example, 8709 ÷ 100 = 87 R 9.
☛ Related Articles
To know more about the division facts check out a few more interesting articles listed below and learn the basics.
- Binary Division
- Division of Fractions
- Long Division Calculator
Division Examples
Example 1: Liza has 2 puppies. She bought 8 chewable bones to feed them both equally. How many bones will each puppy get?
Given, number of puppies = 2,and number of bones = 8. Thus, number of bones for each puppy = 8 ÷ 2 = 4. Therefore, each puppy will get 4 bones.
Example 2: Eva's father baked some cookies for her. Pal and Akon, her best friends, decided to give her a surprise by visiting her unannounced. If there were 9 cookies, how many did Eva's father give Eva, Pal, and Akon so that they were equally shared between them? Use the division algorithm to check your answer.
Given, the number of cookies = 9, and number of people to share cookies = 3. Cookies divided equally among Eva, Pal, and Akon = 9 ÷ 3 = 3. To check division, we will put the values in the formula, Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder. So, 9 = 3 × 3 + 0 = 9. Hence, verified.
Example 3: Find the values of quotient and remainder when 75 is divided by 3? Verify the answers using the division algorithm.
Hence, we get, Quotient = 25 and Remainder = 0. To check division, we will put the values in the formula, Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder. So, 75 = 3 × 25 + 0 = 75. Hence, verified.
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Division Practice Questions
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FAQs on Division
What is division in math.
In maths, we have four basic arithmetic operations i.e., addition , subtraction, multiplication , and division. Amongst these four operations, the division is one of the major operations we use in our daily activities. It is the process of splitting a large group into equal smaller groups. For example, divide 25 by 5. Division fact for this example will be, 25 ÷ 5 = 5.
What are the Two Types of Division?
The division is split into two parts i.e., partitive and quotative models. Partitive is used when dividing a number into a known number of slots. For example, if we divide 4 into 2 slots, we can find out how many items will be in each slot. Quotative division is used when dividing a number into slots of a measured quantity. For example, when we divide 4 into slots of 2, we can determine how many slots can be created.
What are the Three Parts of Division?
The three main parts of division are dividend, quotient, and divisor. In addition to this, when the divisor is not a factor of the dividend, then we get a non-zero remainder which is the fourth part of the division.
What is Long Division Method?
The long division method is the most common method used to solve problems on division. In this process, the divisor is written outside the division symbol, while the dividend is placed within. The quotient is written above the overbar on top of the dividend.
What are the Steps of the Division?
The steps to do division are listed below:
- Step 1: Take the first digit of the dividend. Check if this digit is greater than or equal to the divisor.
- Step 2: Then divide it by the divisor and write the answer on top.
- Step 3: Subtract the result from the digit and write below.
- Step 4: Again, repeat the same process.
How do you Divide when the Divisor is Bigger Than the Dividend?
In this case of division, we can simply keep on adding zeros to the right of the dividend until it becomes appropriate to divide further. Furthermore, we can divide the quotient by the same powers of 10 for the final answer once we get the division done correctly.
How to Divide Decimals?
Dividing decimals is also as easy as dividing any other numbers. All you need to do is multiply the decimal with powers of ten till you get an integer. Then you can carry out the normal division process. Once you get your final answer, make sure to divide it with the same powers of 10 that you divided earlier with.
How to Use Division Calculator?
A division calculator is a tool that is used to solve division problems quickly within seconds. Try Cuemath's division calculator now for solving problems based on division and get your answers in seconds just by a single click.
What are the Rules of Multiplication and Division of Integers?
The rules for the multiplication and division of integers are given below:
- Positive ÷ / × positive = positive
- Negative ÷ / × negative = positive
- Negative ÷ / × positive = negative
- Positive ÷ / × negative = negative
What is the Division Symbol?
There are two symbols of division which are: ÷ and /. ÷ symbol is drawn by placing two small dots on the top and bottom of a small horizontal line. And, / sign is used mostly with fractions , ratios , and percentages .
Why Division by Zero is Undefined?
Division by zero is undefined because one cannot divide any number by zero. This is because when any number is multiplied to zero, the answer is 0. Now, think the reverse of it. 1/0 will have infinite value. We can not quantify this value in mathematics. Hence, the division of any number by zero is undefined.
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Dividing Fractions
Turn the second fraction upside down, then multiply.
There are 3 Simple Steps to Divide Fractions:
Example: 1 2 ÷ 1 6.
Step 1. Turn the second fraction upside down (it becomes a reciprocal ):
1 6 becomes 6 1
Step 2. Multiply the first fraction by that reciprocal :
(multiply tops ...)
1 2 × 6 1 = 1 × 6 2 × 1 = 6 2
(... multiply bottoms)
Step 3. Simplify the fraction:
6 2 = 3
With Pen and Paper
And here is how to do it with a pen and paper (press the play button):
To help you remember:
♫ "Dividing fractions, as easy as pie, Flip the second fraction, then multiply. And don't forget to simplify, Before it's time to say goodbye" ♫
20 divided by 5 is asking "how many 5s in 20?" (=4) and so:
1 2 ÷ 1 6 is really asking:
how many 1 6 s in 1 2 ?
Now look at the pizzas below ... how many "1/6th slices" fit into a "1/2 slice"?
So now you can see why 1 2 ÷ 1 6 = 3
In other words "I have half a pizza, if I divide it into one-sixth slices, how many slices is that?"
Another Example: 1 8 ÷ 1 4
Step 1. Turn the second fraction upside down (the reciprocal ):
1 4 becomes 4 1
1 8 × 4 1 = 1 × 4 8 × 1 = 4 8
4 8 = 1 2
Fractions and Whole Numbers
What about division with fractions and whole numbers?
Make the whole number a fraction, by putting it over 1.
Example: 5 is also 5 1
Then continue as before.
Example: 2 3 ÷ 5
Make 5 into 5 1 :
2 3 ÷ 5 1
5 1 becomes 1 5
2 3 × 1 5 = 2 × 1 3 × 5 = 2 15
The fraction is already as simple as it can be.
Answer = 2 15
Example: 3 ÷ 1 4
Make 3 into 3 1 :
3 1 ÷ 1 4
1 4 becomes 4 1
3 1 × 4 1 = 3 × 4 1 × 1 = 12 1
And Remember ...
You can rewrite a question like "20 divided by 5" into "how many 5s in 20"
So you can also rewrite "3 divided by ¼" into "how many ¼s in 3" (=12)
Why Turn the Fraction Upside Down?
Because dividing is the opposite of multiplying!
But for DIVISION we:
- divide by the top number
- multiply by the bottom number
Example: dividing by 5 / 2 is the same as multiplying by 2 / 5
So instead of dividing by a fraction, it is easier to turn that fraction upside down, then do a multiply.
Trending Post : Teaching Fractions with Food
5 Fun Division Word Problems | Practice Multiple Ways of Solving | Free Printable
Division word problems.
Are your children ready to conquer division? These interactive, division problem-solving worksheets will help children solve division word problems in five different ways.
Division Problems
He has done it numerous times. Sharing a group of toys with his siblings, or even sharing a bag of M&M’s. In those situations, he instinctively knows how to do division problems.
When we hit the division problem in his math book, he wasn’t quite as sure what to do.
I wanted this little man of mine to be able to relate division to what he has done over and over while creating strategies for solving division problems.
These word problems with five steps were what we came up with. These simple division worksheets are perfect for 3rd grade division word problems.
How to Solve Division Word Problems
Step 1: division word problem solving by grouping.
The first step is the way we normally teach children to solve division problems . The students grab the amounts of objects that need to be divided up and then place them in the correct amount of groups. It is very hands-on and a visual way for our children to understand what is happening when we are dividing .
Step 2: Solving Division Word Problems by Repeated Subtraction
To solve a word problem using repeated subtraction, students start with the number being divided up or the dividend. Now they subtract the divisor or the number that tells how many groups are needed from the dividend over and over until they reach zero. The number of times they subtracted is the answer.
Step 3: Division Word Problem Solving with Arrays
Chances are if you taught multiplication in a hands-on way, you taught it using arrays. You can create an array when you place objects, pictures, or numbers in equal columns and equal rows.
With multiplication, you would take a problem like 4 x 5, and make 4 rows with 5 in each column. You would end up with 20 objects, which of course is the answer to the multiplication problem.
Division is a little different. If the problem is 18 ÷ 3, The student creates three rows. They then keep placing one object in each row until they have used 18 objects.
They now have an array that is a 3 by 6. The answer to the division problem is 6.
Want to know how to use arrays to divide when the numbers are larger? Check out this POST !
Step 4: Number Line to Solve Division Word Problems
Number lines have become an important tool in helping children solve problems. The beginning of this video by Ramy Melhem clearly shows how to divide using a number line, and the little frog hopping is a great visual for our little ones.
Step 5: Create an Equation
The final step is very easy after all the work above. The students simply figure out what number was divided up, and place it in the first box.
They then look at how many groups they created, and that is the number that goes into the second box. Finally, they figure out how many objects were in each group and that is the answer or quotient.
That number goes in the last box.
By throwing in markers and painting with q-tips these sheets were fun for my little man, and I could see his understanding of division grow.
We moved on to these cut-and-paste division assessments, and his thinking was challenged even more. Through all this practice he is on his way to mastering simple division problems, and your kiddos can master it too.
Get This Cut and Paste Division Assessment at my TpT Store .
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Division Word Problems Printable
These free division math problems will help your students learn how to solve division problems 5 different ways. You can download this printable by clicking on the download button.
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With just a little practice, you can become a pro at solving division problems. Math Blaster has a large collection of division worksheets, division word problems and fun division activities meant for anyone that's trying to learn or get better at division.
Is the party over? Then, here is some math with the leftovers. Beyond the starter division problems, here is ... See more
Long Division
‘Long Division’ is a division worksheet for primary school kids that will help them practice their understanding of ... See more
Shorter Division
The short division method kick-starts kids’ division lessons. Learning division is essential in mastering the ways of ... See more
The Long Division
‘The Long Division’ is a printable division worksheet for kids of grades 4 and 5 that will help them understand and solve problems ... See more
Santa's Gifts
Santa is the messiah who touches our lives with his thoughtful gifts every once in a year, doesn’t he! Solve cool division problems with ... See more
Calculator Match
Test your mathematical ability by solving math problems and comparing your answers with the calculator’s in ‘Calculator Match’. See more
Help kids sharpen their mental math skills with ‘Hot Potato’. This fun math activity has fun multiplication and division problems that 3rd graders have to do mentally. See more
Sapphires and Rubies
See how well kids can solve division problems with ‘Sapphires and Rubies’, a fun math activity for fourth graders! See more
Divide and Conquer
Divide and Conquer is a math activity where groups of students compete to capture the highest number of states in America. And how do they capture them? By dividing, of course. See more
Dividend Challenge
Dividend Challenge is a fun game where students compete with each other to name as many division facts as possible to go with each dividend, drawn from a box. A couple of games will soon have your students solving division problems with ease! See more
Beat the Calculator
Get kids to solve division problems fast and sharpen their mental math skills with our fun ‘Beat the Calculator’ math activity! See more
Prove Yourself
Number triangles.
Teach your kids about fact families with this fun printable math worksheet! See more
Equivalents Maze
Try and find your way out of this one! This fun printable math worksheet will test your kids' multiplication and division skills. See more
Dr. Zero’s Division Puzzles
Can your young mathematicians defeat Dr. Zero? They will need to use their strategic thinking skills as well as their division skills to fight him. See More
Division Problems for Kids
Division problems are more challenging than the other mathematical operations children in primary school have practiced. Before starting division, students should be comfortable with their multiplication tables. They will also be using their subtraction skills extensively to solve division problems.
The Importance of Practicing Division Problems
Practicing division problems is the best way to improve kids’ speed and accuracy in solving division problems. With practice, children will begin to find division as easy as any other mathematical operation. This will lead to greater confidence in their mathematical abilities. Self-confidence is a major contributor to good grades. With confidence and good grades, kids are more likely to develop a liking for mathematics that will help them perform better in higher grade levels as well!
Division Problems for Practice
Fortunately for parents, there are plenty of websites with large collections of division problems that can be used to get extra practice. These problems are classified according to the level of difficulty and complexity. For example, there are long division problems, dividing by one-digit numbers, dividing by two-digit numbers, division of fractions, etc. The problems are also classified according to grade (3rd grade division, 4th grade division, 5th grade division). Division worksheets are another great way of practicing division problems. The difficulty level of the division problems a child practices at home should ideally match the difficulty level of the division problems the child is practicing at school. However, if a child needs help solving a type of division problem his/her class has already mastered, it is very important that the child masters this type of problem before moving on to a more difficult one.
Division Word Problems
Since division word problems require reading, comprehension and logical thinking skills in addition to division skills, some kids may find these more difficult than basic division problems. However, as with other division problems, extra practice solving division word problems can improve a child’s skills.
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How to Solve Division Word Problems
In grade 3 students move onto more complex word problems using multiplication and division. Below we’ll take you through a step-by-step guide on how to solve a simple division word problem.
Turn the English into Algebra
The first rule of any word problem is to think in math terms. To do that, you’ll need to:
- Read the whole word problem.
- Write down what is asked for. (As students work through the word problem, they can get lost and start to work in a different direction. Having the actual request written down, will help to keep them focus on the goal.)
- Sketch out the word problem, if possible.
- Write down the signs where you see key words. For example, write + where you see add, increase, combine, or – where you see less, difference, reduce.
- Find or work out any formulas.
Division word problem example
Let’s work through a division word problem:
Katie has 700 candies. She gave away 175 candies to her classmates. She put the remaining candies in five separate bags. How may candies are there in each bag?
First, read through the whole word problem once more.
Now, what is being asked? We want to know how many candies are in each of the 5 bags .
Let’s sketch it out:
Write down the math signs where you see key words in the text:
In the above, we can see there are two calculations to be completed.
First, we need to find out how many candies there are left after Katie hands out 175 candies to her classmates:
Now we know there are 525 candies remaining. Next, we need to work out how many candies she put in each of the 5 bags:
We need to divide the 525 candies by 5 bags:
The answer is there are 105 candies in each bag.
For practice, we have division word problems worksheets in our grade 3 word problems section .
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Basic Division
To divide means to split up a large number into smaller groups of numbers. For example, a group of 50 people could be divided into smaller groups of people, such as 5 groups of 10. In order to do basic division, it is very important that you know your multiplication tables (or times tables).
For example, you might see a problem that looks like this:
This problem would be read, “Eighteen divided by 2 equals _____.” In order to solve this problem, you would need to think of your times tables. Then, you would turn the problem around in your head, and say “What number times 2 equals 18?” or “How many times can we put 2 into 18?”
After thinking about your two’s times tables, you would remember that 9 x 2 = 18. Thus, your answer to the division problem is 9. Notice that these can be said in two different ways:
Eighteen divided by two equals nine. Two times nine equals eighteen.
Let’s try another one. Our new problem is:
This is read “twenty-five divided by five equals ____.” Now, we have to flip it around and say, “What times 5 gives us 25?” We think back to our times tables and remember that 5 x 5 = 25, therefore 25 divided by 5 equals 5. Our final answer is five.
Notice that these can also be said opposite of each other:
- Twenty-five divided by five equals five.
- Five times five equals twenty-five.
Division problems like this can often be done in your head, so there’s no real work to show for solving them. This is called using mental math—because it’s done in your mind. For examples of how to do harder division problems, see our page on long division .
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1 Write out the problem using a long division bar. The division bar ( 厂 ) looks like an ending parentheses attached to a horizontal line that goes over the string of numbers beneath the bar.
In this topic, we will multiply and divide whole numbers. The topic starts with 1-digit multiplication and division and goes through multi-digit problems. We will cover regrouping, remainders, and word problems.
In math division problems, there are a number of formats for determining how many times one number will go into another. Solve division problems with tips fr...
Division 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 ÷ /
What do we do to solve them? 1. Division Problems: Repetition This is the first type of division problem you are going to learn to do. For example: In my living room, there are 120 books in total, placed on 6 shelves. Knowing that each shelf has the same number of books, calculate how many books there are on each shelf. Find:
Ways to Divide Lesson Summary Types of Division Division is one of the four basic math operations with addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Division is an important operation because it...
How to Solve Division Problems. Part of the series: Math Problems & History. To solve division problems, determine if the divisor will go into the dividend, ...
Step-by-Step Set up the division problem with the long division symbol or the long division bracket. Put 487, the dividend, on the inside of the bracket. The dividend is the number you're dividing. Put 32, the divisor, on the outside of the bracket. The divisor is the number you're dividing by.
So, how can you solve a division problem? First, you have to know the parts of a division problem. Parts of a Division Problem There are three main parts to a division problem: the dividend, the divisor, and the quotient. The dividend is the number that will be divided. The divisor is the number of "people" that the number is being divided among.
Divide Two Numbers This page will show you a complete "long division" solution for the division of two numbers. Fill in the division problem with your numbers, then click "Divide." Quick! I need help with: Help typing in your math problems
But what I want to do is introduce another maybe a little more interesting way to solve a long-division problem. So once again, let's do our 16 goes into 1,388. And what we're going to do is give us much more leeway for approximation, or for essentially guessing. And what we want to do is just guess. We're going to make guesses for how many ...
Fortunately, there's a very effective way to check that your answer is correct. Follow these steps: 1. Using a calculator or pencil and paper, multiply the quotient by the divisor. 2. If the answer to the division problem has a remainder, add the remainder to the result of the multiplication. 3.
The steps to do division are listed below: Step 1: Take the first digit of the dividend. Check if this digit is greater than or equal to the divisor. Step 2: Then divide it by the divisor and write the answer on top. Step 3: Subtract the result from the digit and write below. Step 4: Again, repeat the same process.
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Home Blog Step by Step Guide for Long Division Step by Step Guide for Long Division What is long division? Long division is a way to solve division problems with large numbers. Basically, these are division problems you cannot do in your head. Getting started
Step 1. Turn the second fraction (the one you want to divide by) upside down (this is now a reciprocal ). Step 2. Multiply the first fraction by that reciprocal Step 3. Simplify the fraction (if needed) Example: Example: 1 2 ÷ 1 6 Step 1. Turn the second fraction upside down (it becomes a reciprocal ): 1 6 becomes 6 1 Step 2.
Step 1: Division Word Problem Solving by Grouping Step 2: Solving Division Word Problems by Repeated Subtraction Step 3: Division Word Problem Solving with Arrays Step 4: Number Line to Solve Division Word Problems Step 5: Create an Equation Division Word Problems Printable
Practicing division problems is a great way for kids to become naturals at solving them. Division word problems may seem difficult to some initially, but this too can easily be changed with a little practice. Division Problems Online - Division Problems for Kids - Math Blaster Account Personal Information Manage Kids Download Games Manage Game
How to Solve Division Word Problems In grade 3 students move onto more complex word problems using multiplication and division. Below we'll take you through a step-by-step guide on how to solve a simple division word problem. Turn the English into Algebra The first rule of any word problem is to think in math terms. To do that, you'll need to:
To divide means to split up a large number into smaller groups of numbers. For example, of 10. In order to do basic division, it is very important that you know your multiplication. tables (or times tables). This problem would be read, "Eighteen divided by 2 equals _____.". In order to solve.
Learn how to solve word problems involving fractions and division, and see examples that walk through sample problems step-by-step for you to improve your math knowledge and skills.