Division is a way to separate a total into equal groups or to find out how many groups can be made. It is the opposite of multiplication.
Think of division as “fair sharing” or “grouping” a total into equal parts.
Division word problems often ask you to split a number into equal groups or to figure out how many groups can be made.
Look for words that show equal sharing or grouping. These are signals that you need to divide.
To solve a division word problem, follow these steps:
Check your answer by multiplying. If groups × number in each group = total, your answer is correct.
Here are some examples of how to turn word problems into division equations and solve them.
Always connect the numbers in the problem to the question being asked. This helps you set up the correct equation.
Division problems may not always divide evenly. Sometimes there will be a remainder left over.
When you see a remainder, think about what it means in the problem. Sometimes the remainder matters, and sometimes it does not.