Primary 3 maths · Operations · About 10 minutes
Divide up to three digits by one digit
Share one place at a time and record a digit for each, carrying any remainder to the next place.
Start the interactive lesson →Practise: Division workshop
What you will learn
- Divide up to three digits by one digit
Models used: number sentences, stories, tables.
Before you start
Share a useful part first
Share 84 counters equally between 4 groups. Split 84 into 80 and 4.
The complete bar is the whole. Each labelled section is one part of it.
Share 84 counters equally between 4 groups. Split 84 into 80 and 4.
84 ÷ 4
All the small boxes represent equally sized units, even when they belong to different rows.
Share the 80 first. Each group receives 20.
80 ÷ 4 = 20
One unit must have the same value in every row. That lets us compare amounts by counting their units.
Groups2020202080 altogether4 equal units · 4 units = 80 · 1 unit = 20
There are 4 groups, with 1 objects in each group. Count a group before counting them all.
The last 4 give each group one more counter.
4 ÷ 4 = 1
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4 × 1 = 4
All the small boxes represent equally sized units, even when they belong to different rows.
Each group has 20 and 1, which is 21.
84 ÷ 4 = 21
One unit must have the same value in every row. That lets us compare amounts by counting their units.
Groups2121212184 altogether4 equal units · 4 units = 84 · 1 unit = 21
What did the picture help us see?
Each group has 20 and 1, which is 21.
Worked example: A new example, together
Calculate 648 ÷ 8.
| Total to share | Number of equal shares |
|---|---|
| 648 | 8 |
The unknown is the amount in one share. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Share one place at a time and record a digit for each, carrying any remainder to the next place.
Division finds how many equal-sized units make the total.
The unknown is the amount in one share. Total to share Number of equal shares 648 8 The unknown is the amount in one share. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Split 648 into parts that divide easily by 8: 640 + 8.
The unknown is the amount in one share. Total to share Number of equal shares 648 8 Calculate 648 ÷ 8.
81
The unknown is the amount in one share. Read each value with the heading above its column.
640 ÷ 8 = 80; 8 ÷ 8 = 1.
The unknown is the amount in one share. Total to share Number of equal shares 648 8 The unknown is the amount in one share. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Join the answers: 80 + 1 = 81.
The unknown is the amount in one share. Total to share Number of equal shares 648 8 The unknown is the amount in one share. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Check the result against the question we started with.
81 × 8 = 648.
We found 81. Division finds how many equal-sized units make the total.
The unknown is the amount in one share. Total to share Number of equal shares 648 8
Common mistakes to discuss
- Dropping a zero in the answer. Every place of the dividend produces a digit. 618 ÷ 6 is 103, not 13, because the tens place gives a zero.
Check your understanding
- Divide up to three digits by one digit
- divide a larger number place by place
- check the answer against the original quantities and units
Explain your reasoning to an adult, then try a fresh question in the interactive lesson. A result from one attempt is not proof of lasting mastery.
Try this lesson →Related Primary 3 lessons
- Add and subtract up to four-digit numbersAdd and subtract up to four-digit numbers · About 10 minutes
- Mentally add and subtract two-digit numbersMentally add and subtract two-digit numbers · About 10 minutes
- Recall the 6, 7, 8 and 9 multiplication tablesRecall the 6, 7, 8 and 9 multiplication tables · About 10 minutes
- Interpret remaindersInterpret remainders · About 10 minutes
- Multiply up to three digits by one digitMultiply up to three digits by one digit · About 10 minutes