The Lesson

Division is splitting into equal parts or groups. 12 apples divided into 4 means splitting the 12 apples into 4 equal groups. Each group is then 3 apples:In numbers:Division is denoted by the divide sign, ÷.

How to Divide

The method used to divide numbers will differ depending on the difficulty of the division. Dividing short numbers is easier than dividing long numbers together.

How to Divide Short Numbers

It is relatively easy to divide short numbers. Children may learn division by sharing out objects into equal groups and counting the number in each group. Another method is to use a number line. Division then appears as scaling a number. If 6 is represented by an arrow from 0 to 6, dividing by 3 is equivalent to scaling, or shrinking, the arrow to being 3 times as short:Once times tables have been committed to memory, division can be done mentally. To divide 12 by 3, count up to 12 in 3s: 4 numbers had to be counted, so 12 divided by 3 is 4.

Long Division

Long division is used to divide longer numbers. Question: What is 84 ÷ 6?
  • Identify the dividend and the divisor.

  • Write the dividend and divisor as follows:

  • Divide the first digit of the dividend (8) by the divisor, and write the whole number answer above the line. (Note: do not count remainders.)
    8 ÷ 6 = 1
  • Multiply the answer from the previous operation with the divisor. Write the result underneath the number divided into.
    1 × 6 = 6
  • Subtract the bottom number from the top number.
    8 - 6 = 2
  • Bring down the next digit of the dividend (4).

  • Divide this number (24) by the divisor, and write the whole number answer above the line. (Note: do not count remainders.)
    24 ÷ 6 = 4
There are no more digits to bring down, and 6 divided into 24 exactly, with no remainder.
The solution to 84 ÷ 6 is 14

Lesson Slides

This slider below shows another example of how to divide:

Parts of Division

  • The number you divide is the dividend.
  • The number you divide by is the divisor.
  • The result of the division is the quotient.

Division As the Opposite of Multiplication

Division is the opposite, or inverse, of multiplication. If: then: and: If two factors multiply to a product, then the product divides by one factor to the other factor.

Remainders

Division doesn't always work out perfectly. Numbers do not always divide into equal groups. For example, what is: Think about sharing 7 apples out into 2 equal groups: Looking above, it can be seen that it is not possible to split the apples into 2 equal groups. 2 groups of 3 apples can be made, with 1 apple left over: The answer to 7 ÷ 2 is 3 (as there are 3 apples in each group) remainder 1 (there is 1 apple left over). This can be written as: The r stands for remainder. 3 is the whole number answer (which is asked for in the long division to the left), and 1 is the remainder.

Using the Calculator

To use the calculator to find that 7 ÷ 2 = 3 r 1:
  • Press 7 ÷ 2 =

  • The answer is 3.5

  • Round the number down: 3 is the whole number answer.

  • Multiply the whole number answer by the divisor.
    3 × 2 = 6

  • Subtract this this from the dividend.
    7 - 6 = 1 1 is the remainder.

Remainders in Long Division

In the long division done on the left, there is no remainder - 6 goes into 84 exactly 14 times. This can be seen in the last step, when 6 divided into 24 exactly, with no remainder. What would happen, if instead of 84 ÷ 6, the division is The early steps would be the same. The difference would come when the next digit of the dividend is brought down. In this case 5 would be bought down instead of 4: 25 ÷ 6 = 4. 4 × 6 would be 24. The final step would then be subtracting 24 from 25: Because a 1 is left after the final subtraction, after all digits of the dividend, the remainder is 1. 85 ÷ 6 = 14 r 1.