The Meaning of Division
Division is repeated subtraction.
Division begins with a large amount of objects (the dividend), which is then separated or divided into small groups of objects.
The quotient (the answer to the division problem) is always smaller than the dividend (the larger number with which you started.)
Begin
with 12 pizzas.
The pizzas must be divided among 4 children.
How can subtraction help you to solve this problem?
How many 4s are in 12? This means, how many times can 4 be subtracted from 12?
1 2 3
12 – 4 = 8 – 4 = 4 – 4 = 0
The number 4 can be subtracted from the number 12, 3 times.
That is why 12 divided by 4 = 3
There are 3 groups of 4 in the number 12. The number 4 can be subtracted 3 times.
© Ellen Gabor, 2004