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Year 1 · Multiplication and division

Share a total into groups of a given size

Definition

Division splits an amount into equal groups: 12 ÷ 4 asks how many each of four equal groups receives, or how many groups of four fit into twelve. It is the inverse of multiplication.

Why Do I Have to Learn This?

Dividing shares things out equally and tells you how many groups fit. You use it to split a bill, share sweets or work out how many teams to make.

Key Rules:

1. Division is the inverse of multiplication, so 12 ÷ 3 = 4 because 4 × 3 = 12.
2. Division cannot be done in any order: 12 ÷ 3 is not the same as 3 ÷ 12.
3. Knowing times-tables by heart makes division fast, you are just reading them backwards.

Remember:

•Dividing does not always "make smaller" once fractions and decimals appear.
•A remainder means the groups were not all equal, decide whether to round up, down, or share it.
•Every division fact is a multiplication fact read backwards.

Key Words:

Division

Sharing or grouping a number into equal parts. The answer is called the quotient.

12 ÷ 3 = 4