Division
In this topic you will
- Explain division as repeated subtraction.
- Describe division as grouping and as sharing.
- Decide whether to add or subtract to solve a word problem.
Key Words
- division, divide
- division as grouping
- division as sharing
- repeated subtraction
Show Definitions
- division, divide: An operation that splits a number into equal parts or equal groups to find how many in each part or how many groups.
- division as grouping: A way to divide by counting how many equal groups of a given size can be made from a total.
- division as sharing: A way to divide by sharing a total equally between a given number of groups to find how many in each group.
- repeated subtraction: Subtracting the same number again and again to find how many times it can be taken away, which models division.
Division as grouping and sharing
When we know the whole, we use division to find out how many equal groups we can make or how to share equally.

EXERCISES
Exercise $1.7$
$1.$Use repeated subtraction on the number line to help you solve each division.
a. $45\div 5=$ ________
b. $14\div 2=$ ________


👀 Show answer
a.$45\div 5=9$
b.$14\div 2=7$
$2.$Use the arrays to help you solve each division.
a. $35\div 5=$ ________
b. $12\div 2=$ ________
Tip
Use the groups of $5$ and groups of $2$ to help you.

👀 Show answer
a.$35\div 5=7$
b.$12\div 2=6$
❓ EXERCISES
3. Share the flowers between two vases.
$20\div 2=$ ________

👀 Show answer
$20\div 2=10$
4. Share the strawberries between $5$ children.
$30\div 5=$ ________

👀 Show answer
$30\div 5=6$
5. Write a division number sentence for each array.
💡 Quick Math Tip
Group Before You Divide: Arrange the frogs and the wheels into equal groups first. Seeing the objects in clear groups makes it easier to write the correct division number sentence.

👀 Show answer
Frogs:$16\div 2=8$
Wheels:$40\div 10=4$
6. Choose a method to use and find the answers.
a. $80\div 10=$ ________
b. $25\div 5=$ ________
c. $18\div 2=$ ________


👀 Show answer
a.$80\div 10=8$
b.$25\div 5=5$
c.$18\div 2=9$
7. $30$ children are playing some games.
The first game needs teams of $2$.
The second game needs teams of $5$.
The third game needs teams of $10$.
How many teams play in each game?
👀 Show answer
Teams of $2$: $30\div 2=15$
Teams of $5$: $30\div 5=6$
Teams of $10$: $30\div 10=3$
Think like a Mathematician
Task: Look at your answers when you divide by $5$.
Follow-up Questions:
👀 show answer
- 1: You get an odd answer when the number you are dividing is an odd multiple of$5$, such as $5$, $15$, $25$, $35$, … because $5\div 5=1$, $15\div 5=3$, $25\div 5=5$, $35\div 5=7$.
- 2: You get an even answer when the number you are dividing is an even multiple of$5$, such as $10$, $20$, $30$, $40$, … because $10\div 5=2$, $20\div 5=4$, $30\div 5=6$, $40\div 5=8$.
- 3: Any number that divides exactly by $5$ can be written as $5\times n$. When you do $5\times n\div 5$, the $5$ cancels and the answer is $n$. So the answer is odd if $n$ is odd, and even if $n$ is even.
❓ EXERCISES
8. Write and solve the number sentences. Do you need to multiply or divide?
a. $5$ children can sit on a bench. How many benches are needed for $30$ children?

b. $10$ children have $5$ marbles each. How many marbles do they have altogether?

👀 Show answer
a. Divide because we are making equal groups of $5$: $30\div 5=6$. So $6$ benches are needed.
b. Multiply because each child has the same number of marbles: $10\times 5=50$. So they have $50$ marbles altogether.
