Division tables
Multiplication and division belong together. If you practise one direction but never the other, you are only learning half of each fact family.
Practise division alongside multiplication. When you know that 7 × 8 = 56, you should gradually become comfortable retrieving 56 ÷ 7 = 8 and 56 ÷ 8 = 7 as well.
Retrieve division from the picture
Here are 24 dots, arranged as 4 equal rows of 6.
Four groups of 6 fit into 24.
Each group contains 6.
One picture gives a whole fact family
4 × 6 = 24 6 × 4 = 24
24 ÷ 6 = 4 24 ÷ 4 = 6
Rather than learning the division answer as a new disconnected fact, ask which multiplication fact would produce the number you started with.
Practice the fact families
For each multiplication fact, write the two matching division facts.
- 7 × 8 = 56
- 6 × 9 = 54
- 4 × 12 = 48
- 3 × 7 = 21
Answers
56 ÷ 7 = 8, 56 ÷ 8 = 7
54 ÷ 6 = 9, 54 ÷ 9 = 6
48 ÷ 4 = 12, 48 ÷ 12 = 4
21 ÷ 3 = 7, 21 ÷ 7 = 3
Turn division back into multiplication
If you see 56 ÷ 8 and the answer does not immediately come back, rewrite the question in your head:
8 × ? = 56
That lets you use all the multiplication strategies you have already developed. Division is not a separate world.
Compound divisors can be split into stages
A divisor such as 6, 8 or 12 can itself be split into factors. Instead of performing one difficult division, divide in easier stages.
72 ÷ 8
72 → 36 → 18 → 9
84 ÷ 6
84 → 42 → 14
96 ÷ 12
96 → 32 → 8
Why does this work? Because dividing by 12 is the same as dividing by factors whose product is 12. For example, 12 = 3 × 4.
Practice dividing in stages
Try these mentally:
- 64 ÷ 8
- 90 ÷ 6
- 108 ÷ 12
- 144 ÷ 12
Possible routes
64 ÷ 8: 64 → 32 → 16 → 8
90 ÷ 6: 90 ÷ 2 = 45, then 45 ÷ 3 = 15
108 ÷ 12: 108 ÷ 3 = 36, then 36 ÷ 4 = 9
144 ÷ 12: 144 ÷ 3 = 48, then 48 ÷ 4 = 12
Practise both directions
From now on, multiplication and division should appear together in retrieval practice. Seeing 7 × 8, 56 ÷ 7 and 56 ÷ 8 strengthens the same underlying relationship from different directions.
Use Mixed mode most of the time. The combined app still lets you select multiplication-only or division-only practice when you want to concentrate on one direction.
Open multiplication & division practice →Progress is saved on this device, and weaker questions return sooner.
What to remember
- Multiplication and division are inverse operations.
- Use multiplication to retrieve a forgotten division fact.
- Practise the two directions together.
- Split compound divisors into easier factors when that helps.