What Is Division? Sharing Fairly
Division is splitting something into equal groups
Learning Objective
Students will learn what division is and how it helps us share things equally.
What You'll Learn
- Division is splitting something into equal groups
- The division symbol is ÷ and it means "shared into"
- 12 ÷ 4 = 3 means 12 items shared into 4 groups gives 3 each
- Division is the opposite of multiplication
- Division helps us share fairly — cookies, pizza slices, toys
Words to Know
- Division
- Splitting something into equal groups
- "12 ÷ 4 = 3 is division."
- Divide
- To split into equal parts
- "Divide the cookies fairly."
- Equal
- The same amount
- "Each friend gets an equal share."
- Group
- A set of things together
- "Split 12 into 4 groups of 3."
Check What You Learned
Quick Quiz
1 / 5Which of these is TRUE?
Fun Facts
Division is splitting a number into equal groups
Source: CCSS 3.OA.A.2
The division symbol ÷ is called an obelus, first used in 1659
Source: Math history, Swiss mathematician Johann Rahn
12 ÷ 4 = 3 means 12 items shared into 4 groups gives 3 per group
Source: CCSS
Division is the inverse operation of multiplication
Source: Mathematics standards
Division relates to fair sharing and grouping contexts
Source: NCTM
CCSS 3.OA.A.2: Interpret whole-number quotients of whole numbers
Source: Common Core
Lesson Info
Standards Alignment
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.2
Interpret whole-number quotients
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.4
Unknown whole number in division equations
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.B.6
Understand division as an unknown-factor problem
Keywords
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