Division as a Missing Factor
Aligned to 3.OA.B.6 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
What this lesson teaches
Every division problem is really a hidden multiplication. To divide, ask what number times the divisor gives the total.
Worked examples
Example 1
Solve 32 ÷ 8. Ask: what times 8 equals 32? Count by 8s: 8, 16, 24, 32. That is 4 eights. So 32 ÷ 8 = 4, because 8 × 4 = 32.
Example 2
Solve 42 ÷ 6. Ask: what times 6 equals 42? Count by 6s: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42. That is 7 sixes, so 42 ÷ 6 = 7.
Example 3
You can never divide by 0. There is no number you could multiply by 0 to get 5, so 5 ÷ 0 has no answer at all.
Practice questions
- Solve 27 ÷ 9 by asking what times 9 equals 27.
- Solve 30 ÷ 5 using a missing factor.
- Write the multiplication that helps you solve 42 ÷ 6.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
La División como Factor que Falta
Cada división es en realidad una multiplicación escondida. Para dividir, pregunta qué número por el divisor da el total.
Ejemplo 1: Resuelve 32 ÷ 8. Pregunta: ¿qué número por 8 es 32? Cuenta de 8 en 8: 8, 16, 24, 32. Son 4 ochos. Entonces 32 ÷ 8 = 4, porque 8 × 4 = 32.
Ejemplo 2: Resuelve 42 ÷ 6. Pregunta: ¿qué número por 6 da 42? Cuenta de 6 en 6: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42. Son 7 seises, así que 42 ÷ 6 = 7.
Ejemplo 3: Nunca se puede dividir entre 0. No hay ningún número que multiplicado por 0 dé 5, así que 5 ÷ 0 no tiene respuesta.
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