Division facts

In your book, Maths Mela (Chapter 9, Coconut Farm), coconuts are arranged in an array of 5 rows with 7 coconuts in each row. 5 × 7 = 35, so there are 35 coconuts.

The same array gives two division facts. Split the 35 coconuts into 7 equal groups (one for each column), and each group has 5: 35 ÷ 7 = 5. Split them into 5 equal groups (one for each row), and each group has 7: 35 ÷ 5 = 7. So one multiplication fact gives two division facts.

In 35 ÷ 5 = 7, the number being divided, 35, is the dividend (N). The number we divide by, 5, is the divisor (D). The answer, 7, is the quotient (Q). Notice: dividend = divisor × quotient, or N = D × Q. Here 35 = 5 × 7. And 35 ÷ 1 = 35: if 35 is put into 1 group, all 35 are in that group.

An array of 4 rows with 8 in each row gives 4 × 8 = 32, and so 32 ÷ 4 = 8 and 32 ÷ 8 = 4. Big numbers work the same way: 400 × 8 = 3,200, so 3,200 ÷ 400 = 8 and 3,200 ÷ 8 = 400.

This also helps with puzzles where a number is missing. For 56 ÷ ___ = 8, ask: what times 8 makes 56? 7 × 8 = 56, so the missing number is 7.