Division

Division

Tips and Tricks

Poll

How comfortable do you feel with your knowledge of division facts?

• I don't feel that I understand division at all!

• I feel comfortable with basic division, but then I am lost!

• I am very comfortable with long division problems!

Poll

How did you calculate the answer to

 $48\div6$  ?

• I did not know how to get the answer

• I drew circles and dots

• I found a friendly math fact and worked from there

• I knew 6x8 equals 48, so I worked backward from my multiplication facts.

Circles and Dots Method

Draw circles equal to the smaller number (denominator) and then put dots in each circle equal to the larger number(numerator). The number of dots in each circle is your answer. This method can be time consuming, but it is effective.

Find a "Friendly Math Fact"

With the problem  $48\div6$  , you may want to use your 5s math facts to help you out because they are more familiar to you. You know  $5$ groups of 8 equals 40, so you can infer that if you had 6 groups of 8 you would have 48.

Know Your Multiplication Facts

By becoming fluent in the use of your multiplication facts division can become an easier process. In the same way that subtraction is the "reverse" of addition, division is the "reverse" of multiplication. Think of it this way - multiplication is putting groups together, and division is taking groups apart.

You Can Do It!

You now have three methods in your tool box for solving division problems. Once you get comfortable dividing two digit numbers by one digit numbers you will be able to do any division problem you cone across!