What is division?

division |diˈvi zh ən|noun1 the action of separating something into parts, or the process of being separated.

Most people relate division to

multiplication

This makes sense to grown ups.But does it make sense to kids?

Why do people think that multiplying and dividing go

together?

DOES THIS PICTURE SHOW 9 DIVIDED BY 3 OR 3 TIMES 9?

Beginning methods for multiplication and division look

exactly the same.

The truth isthat division undoes multiplication.

3x4 looks like this:You know how many groupsand how many IN each groupit means you put 3 of something together4 times, you want to know how many you will haveall together.

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To do this backwards you start with 12 of something.

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and separate then into equal groups

This shows 12 separated into 4 equal groups of 3.

12÷4=?you know that The total number is 12, and that you separate that into 4 groups. You want to know how

many in each group.

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Easy with pictures right?Not so easy with bigger numbers!

To successfully divide with bigger numbers, you have to be able to take them apart. This is where knowing that most numbers can be factored by 2,3,5,7 and 10 really helps!

I bet you wanted to know about this one:

3 12http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=hp6Mwm5Ouxclook

Now try this one:

Long Division using Chunking - YouTube

Everything we have been doing with factoring and multiples builds the number knowledge you need to divide more easily.