divide

Sign: ÷

An operation which divides a number equally to a specific number of parts.

For example, there are 15 chocolates in a box and 3 friends want to share them:

15 ÷ 3 = 5

Therefore, the 3 friends have 5 chocolates each.

Sometimes, a number can’t be divided evenly. This means that there will be a remainder.

For example, if the 15 chocolates were divided between 4 friends the result would be:

15 ÷ 4 = 3 remainder 3

Therefore, the 4 friends have 3 chocolates each and there are 3 left over.

Divide is the inverse operation of multiply.

It’s also possible to divide according to scale. Think of a ruler which usually shows a centimetre scale on the top. Every centimetre can be divided to represent millimetres.