Division is the process of splitting a number into equal parts. When you divide by a 1-digit number, you are finding how many equal groups of that number fit into a larger number, or how much each group gets when the larger number is shared equally.
Division is the opposite of multiplication. You can always check your work by multiplying the quotient by the divisor to see if it equals the dividend.
Every division problem has three main parts: the dividend (the number being divided), the divisor (the number you are dividing by), and the quotient (the result).
Remember this order: Dividend ÷ Divisor = Quotient.
To divide a large number by a 1-digit number, use long division. Work from left to right, dividing each digit of the dividend by the divisor. If a digit cannot be divided evenly, carry the remainder to the next place value.
Always keep digits lined up neatly by place value when dividing. Check your answer by multiplying the quotient by the divisor.
Sometimes a number cannot be divided evenly. The amount left over is called the remainder. It is smaller than the divisor.
If you multiply the divisor by the quotient and add the remainder, the result should equal the dividend.
When dividing large numbers, you can use estimation to see if your answer makes sense. Round the dividend to a nearby multiple of the divisor before dividing.
Estimation helps you recognize if an answer is reasonable or if you made an error in division.
Division is used in real life to share or group items equally. You can use division to solve word problems by identifying what is being shared and how many groups or items per group you need.
Always read word problems carefully to decide what number to divide and what the quotient represents.