Step 5 · Reverse
Turn multiplication into division
Multiplication and division can describe the same picture.
Watch the same array answer three questions
4 × 7 = 28
4 rows of 7 make 28 altogether.
Same picture. Same numbers. Different question.
One multiplication fact gives you two division facts.
Division strategies
Just like multiplication, a difficult division can often be changed into an easier calculation.
1 · Turn it around
Ask a multiplication question
56 ÷ 7 = ?
7 × ? = 56
If you know 7 × 8 = 56, then 56 ÷ 7 = 8.
2 · Break the divisor apart
Divide in smaller steps
84 ÷ 6
6 = 2 × 3
84 ÷ 2 = 42
42 ÷ 3 = 14
42 ÷ 3 = 14
3 · Split the number
Use friendly chunks
84 ÷ 7
70 ÷ 7 + 14 ÷ 7
10 + 2 = 12
4 · Find a nearby multiple
Go somewhere easy, then come back
63 ÷ 7
70 ÷ 7 = 10
63 is one group of 7 less → 9
5 · Make both numbers smaller
Halve both when you can
84 ÷ 14
42 ÷ 7 = 6
Halving both numbers keeps the answer the same.
6 · ÷4 and ÷8
Keep halving
96 ÷ 8
96 → 48 → 24 → 12
Divide by 8 = halve three times.
7 · ÷5
Double, then divide by 10
85 ÷ 5
170 ÷ 10 = 17
This is the reverse of the ×5 shortcut.
Do not wrestle with a difficult division exactly as it is written.
Next: use the facts in bigger maths ↓
Change it into something you already know how to do.
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