IMOClass 2 › Division

Division

Division as Equal Sharing

Division means sharing equally. If 12 sweets are shared among 3 children, each child gets 12 ÷ 3 = 4 sweets. The sign ÷ means divided by. Sharing equally means every group gets the same amount.

Example 1: Share 10 apples among 2 baskets equally.
10 ÷ 2 = 5 apples in each basket.
Example 2: Share 15 pencils among 3 friends.
15 ÷ 3 = 5 pencils each.
Quick recap
  • Division shares things into equal groups.
  • ÷ means divided by; 12 ÷ 3 = 4.
✓ Quick check
Share 8 balloons between 2 children. Each gets ___ ?
8 ÷ 2 = 4 balloons each.
What is 20 ÷ 5?
20 shared into 5 groups gives 4 each.

Division as Equal Grouping

Division also tells how many equal groups we can make. If we have 12 oranges and put 4 in each bag, we make 12 ÷ 4 = 3 bags. Here we know how many in each group and find the number of groups.

Example 1: 18 students sit 2 to a bench. How many benches?
18 ÷ 2 = 9 benches.
Example 2: How many groups of 5 in 25?
25 ÷ 5 = 5 groups.
Quick recap
  • Division can find the number of equal groups.
  • Total ÷ size of each group = number of groups.
✓ Quick check
How many groups of 3 can be made from 12?
12 ÷ 3 = 4 groups.
30 ÷ 10 = ?
30 ÷ 10 = 3 groups of ten.

Multiplication–Division Link & Word Problems

Division is the opposite of multiplication. Since 4 × 5 = 20, we know 20 ÷ 5 = 4 and 20 ÷ 4 = 5. In word problems, words like share equally, each and how many groups mean divide.

Example 1: If 6 × 3 = 18, what is 18 ÷ 3?
Division undoes multiplication, so 18 ÷ 3 = 6.
Example 2: 24 laddoos shared equally among 4 plates. How many per plate?
24 ÷ 4 = 6 laddoos each.
Quick recap
  • Division undoes multiplication.
  • 'Share equally / each / how many groups' means divide.
✓ Quick check
If 5 × 4 = 20, then 20 ÷ 4 = ?
Division undoes multiplication, so 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
16 chocolates are shared equally among 4 children. Each gets ___ ?
16 ÷ 4 = 4 chocolates each.
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