Mathematics · Glossary

What is Division?

Definition 17.1 Primary & Middle School Mathematics · Chapter 17 — Sharing and Division

The division 20÷420 \div 4 answers two kinds of questions:

  • sharing: 2020 marbles shared among 44 children — how many marbles each? (55 each);
  • grouping: 2020 marbles put in bags of 44 — how many bags? (55 bags).

Both questions have the same answer, because both undo the same multiplication: 4×5=204 \times 5 = 20.

Sharing 20 into 4 equal groups. Grouping by 4 instead would give 5 groups — the same division.
Sharing 2020 into 44 equal groups. Grouping by 44 instead would give 55 groups — the same division.
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