Share out the biggest units first: hundreds, then tens, then ones.
Step 1: Let's Learn
Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.
An example
486 ÷ 3. Share 4 hundreds among 3: one each, with 1 hundred left over.
The leftover joins the next unit
That leftover hundred becomes 10 tens, joining the 8 tens to make 18 tens.
18 tens shared among 3 is 6 tens. Then 6 ones shared among 3 is 2. The answer is 162.
Share out the biggest units first
To do 936 ÷ 4, share the hundreds first: 9 hundreds shared 4 ways gives 2 hundreds each with 1 hundred left. Trade that hundred for 10 tens, making 13 tens. Share those: 3 tens each with 1 ten left. Trade for 10 ones, making 16 ones. Share: 4 each. Answer: 234.
Why division starts on the left
Addition, subtraction and multiplication all start at the ones. Division starts at the largest place, because leftovers travel rightwards — an undivided hundred becomes tens, which becomes ones. The direction follows the direction the leftovers move.
Estimate the answer's size first
936 ÷ 4 is roughly 900 ÷ 4, a bit over 200. Knowing the answer has three digits before you start tells you immediately if you have dropped one. A missing digit in a quotient is easy to make and hard to notice.
Check by multiplying
234 × 4 = 936, so the division is right. Multiplication is the natural check for division, exactly as addition is for subtraction. Build the habit now, because the divisions get longer from here.
Step 2: Try It Yourself
Tap and try it out.
Hundreds
4
Tens
8
Ones
6
4 hundreds, 8 tens and 6 ones is 486.
Step 3: Watch an Example
One step at a time.
Watch Leo Share 486 Among 3
Leo divides 486 by 3.
- Step 1
He shares the 4 hundreds: one each, with 1 hundred left.
Step 4: Your Turn
Practice makes it stick.
The Share Out
Problem 1 of 2
936 stickers shared equally among 4 children. How many each?
stickers
The Boxes
Problem 2 of 2
855 pens go equally into 5 boxes. How many per box?
pens
Share the Units
1 of 3
672 ÷ 3 = ?
2 of 3
824 ÷ 4 = ?
3 of 3
954 ÷ 6 = ?
Step 5: Quick Check
Show what you know.
Question 1 of 2
738 ÷ 6 = ?
Question 2 of 2
Which units do you share first?
What You Learned
- Share the biggest units first.
- Break a leftover into the next unit down.
- Then carry on sharing.