GoalWrite a division equation for a story and check it with multiplication.
New words
divide · to share or group a total into equal partsequation · a number sentence with an equals signquotient · the answer to a division
Explanation
Division tells a story about a total that is shared or grouped equally. We write it with the sign ÷. Sharing story: 20 fruits are put equally into 4 bags. The total is 20 and the number of bags is 4, so 20 ÷ 4 = 5. There are 5 fruits in each bag. Grouping story: 20 fruits are packed with 5 in each bag. Now the total is 20 and the size of each group is 5, so 20 ÷ 5 = 4 bags. In both stories the total comes first in the equation. To check a division, multiply back: 4 × 5 = 20. If the product is the total, the quotient is right.
Story
Equation
Answer
Share 20 fruits into 4 bags
20 ÷ 4
5 in each bag
Pack 20 fruits, 5 in each bag
20 ÷ 5
4 bags
Worked examples
Marwan puts 20 oranges equally into 4 bags. Each bag gets 20 ÷ 4 = 5 oranges. Check: 4 × 5 = 20.
Jana has 18 pencils and puts 3 in each box. How many boxes does she fill? 18 ÷ 3 = 6 boxes.
Nour has 35 stickers and gives 5 to each friend. How many friends get stickers? The fact triangle has 35 at the top and 5 at the bottom. The missing number is 35 ÷ 5 = 7 friends.
Class activity
Story makers. With a partner, write four division stories using the numbers 12, 15, 18 and 30: two sharing stories and two grouping stories. Use things from your day, like bread, books or balloons. Write the equation for each story and check it with multiplication.
Practice
1
28 dates are shared equally among 4 plates. Write the equation and the answer.
28 ÷ 4 = 7 dates on each plate.
2
Salma has 24 stars. She puts 6 stars in each bag. How many bags does she need?
24 ÷ 6 = 4 bags.
3
45 LE is shared equally among 5 children. Write the division and say how much each child gets.
45 ÷ 5 = 9, so each child gets 9 LE.
4
A baker packs 32 rolls into bags with 8 rolls in each bag. How many bags is that?
32 ÷ 8 = 4 bags.
5
Check 56 ÷ 7 = 8 with multiplication.
7 × 8 = 56, which is the total, so 56 ÷ 7 = 8 is right.
