1
Division patterns and place value
Discover Mathematics P4: Term 1, Unit 7, Lessons 11–16
GoalUse place value and basic facts to divide hundreds and thousands.
New words
dividend · the number that is divideddivisor · the number we divide byquotient · the answer of a division
Explanation
In 900 ÷ 3 = 300, the number 900 is the dividend, 3 is the divisor and 300 is the quotient. Division patterns come from place value. Think of 900 as 9 hundreds. Share 9 hundreds into 3 equal groups: each group gets 3 hundreds, which is 300. We used the basic fact 9 ÷ 3 = 3 and kept the unit, hundreds. In the same way 3,500 ÷ 7 is 35 hundreds ÷ 7 = 5 hundreds = 500. And 480 ÷ 8 is 48 tens ÷ 8 = 6 tens = 60. So: find the basic fact, then put back the zeros. Check by multiplying: 300 × 3 = 900. Take care with the zeros: 3,000 ÷ 5 is 30 hundreds ÷ 5 = 6 hundreds = 600, not 60.
| Division | Basic fact | Unit | Quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 900 ÷ 3 | 9 ÷ 3 = 3 | hundreds | 300 |
| 3,500 ÷ 7 | 35 ÷ 7 = 5 | hundreds | 500 |
| 480 ÷ 8 | 48 ÷ 8 = 6 | tens | 60 |
Worked examples
Find 900 ÷ 3. 9 hundreds ÷ 3 = 3 hundreds, so 900 ÷ 3 = 300. Check: 300 × 3 = 900.
Find 3,500 ÷ 7. 35 hundreds ÷ 7 = 5 hundreds = 500. The fact 35 ÷ 7 = 5 gives the digit, the hundreds give two zeros. Check: 500 × 7 = 3,500.
Find 480 ÷ 8. 48 tens ÷ 8 = 6 tens = 60. Check: 60 × 8 = 480.
Class activity
Zero hunt. Write 12 ÷ 3 = 4. Then write 120 ÷ 3, 1,200 ÷ 3 and 12,000 ÷ 3 with the answers. Count the zeros in each dividend and in each quotient. What do you notice?
Practice
1
Find 800 ÷ 4.
8 hundreds ÷ 4 = 2 hundreds = 200.
2
Find 2,700 ÷ 9.
27 hundreds ÷ 9 = 3 hundreds = 300.
3
Find 560 ÷ 7.
56 tens ÷ 7 = 8 tens = 80.
4
4,200 LE is shared equally between 6 workers. How much does each worker get?
42 hundreds ÷ 6 = 7 hundreds = 700 LE.
5
Omar says 3,000 ÷ 5 = 60. Find his mistake and the right answer.
3,000 is 30 hundreds, so 30 hundreds ÷ 5 = 6 hundreds = 600. Check: 600 × 5 = 3,000.