Division by 2 is the mathematical operation of splitting a whole number into two equal groups, or finding out how many groups of 2 are in a number.
Dividing by 2 is the same as taking half of a number. It is the inverse, or opposite, operation of multiplying by 2.
You can divide by 2 by using equal sharing, using repeated subtraction, or by knowing related multiplication facts.
An even number divided by 2 results in a whole number. An odd number divided by 2 results in a remainder of 1.
Memorizing the division facts for 2 helps you solve problems quickly and accurately. These facts use dividends up to 24.
Each division fact is related to a multiplication fact from the 2s table. For example, 24 ÷ 2 = 12 is related to 2 × 12 = 24.
We use division by 2 to solve problems involving pairs, halves, and fair sharing between two people or things.
Look for clue words like "split equally," "half," "between two," "shared," "each," or "per" to know when to divide by 2.