Minds On

What is division?

What does division mean? When are some times when you might need quick ways to divide in your day-to-day life? Perhaps you are separating snacks amongst your friends or splitting a meal. What happens when the sharing isn’t equal?

Do you know any strategies or connections that help you divide more quickly? How can you divide 333 by 3? How can you divide 195 by 5? Reflect on your strategy. How did you solve these questions?

Check out the following examples of division:

Action

Divisibility rules

Examine the following numbers: 202, 164, 468, 308, 506. How are these numbers similar? Record in your notebook or discuss your ideas with a partner.

Did you notice that these numbers are all even numbers, which means that they are all divisible by 2. Divisibility means that a number can be split evenly by another number without any remainders.

There are some easy tips and tricks when trying to divide up different amounts. The Divisibility Rules are key to supporting mental math strategies. Divisibility Rules refer to numbers that are divisible by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10.

You can use this chart to determine if any number is divisible by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, or 10. Compare the number with each rule to explore if and how they apply.

For example, compare the number 408 with these rules:

  • 2 − the last digit (8) is an even number
  • 3 − the sum of the digits (12) is divisible by 3
  • 4 − the last two digits (08) are divisible by 4
  • 5 − the last digit (8) is NOT a 0 or 5
  • 6 − the number (408) is divisible by 2 and 3 (we know this because we just applied the rules for those numbers)
  • 9 − the sum of the digits (12) is NOT divisible by 9
  • 10 − the number (408) does NOT end in 0

Therefore, we can conclude that the number 408 is divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6, and that it is not divisible by 5, 9, or 10.

Putting divisibility rules into practice!

If you would like, you can complete this activity using TVO Mathify. You can also use your notebook or the following fillable and printable document.

Task 1: Applying the rules

Try out the Divisibility Rules yourself! Which divisibility rules apply to the following numbers? Record as many as many as you can find.

136 505 192 333 810

Task 2: Packaging cupcakes

You have been tasked with a challenge. Your neighbour has baked three flavours of cupcakes for a special event and has asked you for help deciding how to package them. They need to package their cupcakes so there is an equal number of cupcakes in each box. They also want to make sure there is only one flavour of cupcake per box. They baked 78 vanilla cupcakes, 216 chocolate cupcakes, and 412 red velvet cupcakes. How many different ways can they package the cupcakes so each box contains an equal number? If possible, share your answers with a partner or a family member.

Press the ‘TVO Mathify' button to access this interactive whiteboard and the ‘Activity’ button for your note-taking document. You will need a TVO Mathify login to access this resource.

TVO Mathify (Opens in new window) Activity (Open PDF in a new window)

Consolidation

Using division daily

Create your own division word problem and share it with a partner, if possible. Can they solve the problem using the divisibility rules? Did you come up with the same answers?

Everyday use of division, ie. baking, meal prep, setting dinner table, buying groceries

Task: Personal connection

How does understanding the divisibility rules make it easier for you to solve problems? When might you use divisibility rules in your day-to-day life?

Choose a couple of situations that are meaningful to you and explore how many ways you can evenly divide that amount using the divisibility rules.

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Connect with a TVO Mathify tutor

Think of TVO Mathify as your own personalized math coach, here to support your learning at home. Press ‘TVO Mathify’ to connect with an Ontario Certified Teacher math tutor of your choice. You will need a TVO Mathify login to access this resource.

TVO Mathify (Opens in new window)