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Division: sharing equally

Learn division as equal sharing and equal grouping, see how it links to multiplication, and handle remainders.

Get the whole book: Maths for classes 3 to 5 (4 lessons, free to print)

Let us begin

The big idea

Whenever you share sweets with your friends so that everyone gets the same, you are dividing. Let us see how division works and how to do it fast.

Division means sharing equally or making equal groups. 12 ÷ 3 = 4 means 12 things shared among 3 gives 4 each.

Division is the opposite of multiplication. Because 3 × 4 = 12, we know 12 ÷ 3 = 4 and 12 ÷ 4 = 3.

In 12 ÷ 3 = 4, the number 12 is the dividend, 3 is the divisor and 4 is the quotient.

Sometimes things cannot be shared equally. What is left over is called the remainder. The remainder is always smaller than the divisor.

To check a division, multiply the quotient by the divisor and add the remainder. You should get the dividend back.

12 laddoos shared among 3 platesThree plates, each with 4 laddoos on it. Twelve laddoos have been shared equally. Below the plates it says 12 divided by 3 equals 4.12 laddoos shared equally among 3 plates Plate 1: 4 Plate 2: 4 Plate 3: 4 12 ÷ 3 = 4
Sharing 12 equally among 3 plates gives 4 on each plate.

Worked examples

See how it works

  1. Equal groups: 20 ÷ 4

    Ask: 4 times what is 20? 4 × 5 = 20. So 20 ÷ 4 = 5.

  2. With a remainder: 15 ÷ 4

    4 × 3 = 12, and 4 × 4 = 16 is too big. So the quotient is 3. 15 − 12 = 3 is left over. So 15 ÷ 4 = 3 remainder 3. Check: 4 × 3 + 3 = 15.

  3. A story: 56 mangoes in 7 baskets

    Share 56 mangoes equally into 7 baskets. 7 × 8 = 56. So each basket gets 8 mangoes.

  4. Two-digit number: 84 ÷ 4

    84 is 8 tens and 4 ones. 8 tens ÷ 4 = 2 tens. 4 ones ÷ 4 = 1 one. So 84 ÷ 4 = 21. Check: 21 × 4 = 84.

Try it at home

Share the beans

You will need

  • 25 beans, stones or buttons
  • 6 small bowls or cups
  • Paper and a pencil

What to do

  1. Share 24 beans equally into 2 bowls. How many in each? Write 24 ÷ 2 = 12.
  2. Now share 24 into 3 bowls, then 4 bowls, then 6 bowls. Write each division fact.
  3. Take 25 beans and share them among 4 bowls. What is left over?
  4. Write the answer as a quotient and a remainder.
  5. Check by multiplying and adding the remainder.

Ask a grown-up: Keep beans and small stones away from little children who might put them in their mouths.

Practice sheet

Check what you learned

Write your answers in a notebook, or print this sheet and write on it. When you finish, mark your work with the answer key.

Practice sheet: Division: sharing equally (Classes 3-5, Maths)

  1. 18 ÷ 3 = ?
  2. 24 ÷ 6 = ?
  3. 40 ÷ 8 = ?
  4. 63 ÷ 9 = ?
  5. 48 pencils are shared equally among 6 children. How many does each child get?
  6. If 7 × 6 = 42, what is 42 ÷ 7?
  7. 17 ÷ 5 = ? (give the quotient and the remainder)
  8. 29 ÷ 4 = ? (give the quotient and the remainder)
  9. 96 ÷ 3 = ?
  10. Rs 250 is shared equally among 5 children. How many rupees does each child get?

Answer key

Answers: Division: sharing equally

Do the practice sheet first, then check here. If an answer is different from yours, read the lesson again and try once more.

  1. 6
  2. 4
  3. 5
  4. 7
  5. 8 pencils (48 ÷ 6).
  6. 6
  7. Quotient 3, remainder 2 (5 × 3 = 15, 17 − 15 = 2).
  8. Quotient 7, remainder 1 (4 × 7 = 28, 29 − 28 = 1).
  9. 32 (9 tens ÷ 3 = 3 tens, 6 ones ÷ 3 = 2 ones). Check: 32 × 3 = 96.
  10. Rs 50 each (250 ÷ 5 = 50).

What next

Keep learning

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All 4 maths lessons for classes 3 to 5 on one page, with every practice sheet and answer key, ready to print.

Maths for classes 3 to 5

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