÷ Division Expert 🧠

Division is the inverse (opposite) of multiplication — and your times tables are your best tool! A Division Expert knows three key skills: mental strategies for quick calculations, the bus stop method for written division, and how to handle remainders correctly.

⚡ Mental: Halve & Halve Again
96 ÷ 4 → 96 ÷ 2 = 48 → 48 ÷ 2 = 24
🚌 Bus Stop Method
3 135 → 045
 = 45
📝 Remainders as Fractions
17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2 = 3 and ²⁄₅

🧠 The Golden Rules:

📝 Worked Examples

Study each method carefully — then try the drag exercises!

Example 1: Dividing by 10, 100 and 1000

Questions: (a) 630 ÷ 10   (b) 4,700 ÷ 100   (c) 8,000 ÷ 1000

Rule: Each ÷ 10 shifts all digits one place to the RIGHT.
(a) 630 ÷ 10 = 63 — digits shift one place right.
(b) 4,700 ÷ 100 = 47 — digits shift two places right.
(c) 8,000 ÷ 1000 = 8 — digits shift three places right.

Example 2: Bus Stop Method (Short Division)

Question: Calculate 135 ÷ 3 using the bus stop method.

3
 0 4 5
1 3 5
Step 1: 3 into 1 doesn't go → write 0, carry the 1. Now divide 13.
Step 2: 3 into 13 goes 4 times (3 × 4 = 12), remainder 1. Write 4, carry the 1.
Step 3: 3 into 15 goes 5 times exactly. Write 5.

Answer: 135 ÷ 3 = 45  ✔ Check: 45 × 3 = 135 ✓

Example 3: Remainder as a Fraction and Decimal

Question: Divide 29 by 4. Write the answer (a) as a mixed number and (b) as a decimal.

Bus stop: 4 into 29 = 7 remainder 1  →  29 ÷ 4 = 7 r 1
(a) As a mixed number: remainder over divisor → 7 and ¹⁄₄ = 7¼
(b) As a decimal: ¼ = 0.25 → 7.25

Check: 7 × 4 = 28, + 1 remainder = 29 ✓

Example 4: Remainders in Context (Word Problem)

Question: 50 children need to be put into teams of 6. How many complete teams can be made? How many children are left over?

50 ÷ 6 = 8 remainder 2
8 complete teams can be made.
2 children are left over.

Key point: In context, we round down to the nearest whole number — you can't have a fraction of a team!

🔬 Bus Stop Solver

Enter a dividend (up to 4 digits) and a single-digit divisor. See the bus stop method worked step by step!

÷

🧩 Drag 1: Dividing by 10, 100 and 1000

Digits shift RIGHT when dividing by powers of 10. Drag the correct answer!

47
470
4700
4,700 ÷ 100 =

🧩 Drag 2: Halve and Halve Again (÷ 4)

To divide by 4: halve the number, then halve the answer again. Try it for 96 ÷ 4!

24
34
44
96 ÷ 4 =

(Hint: 96 ÷ 2 = 48  |  48 ÷ 2 = ?)

🧩 Drag 3: Short Division (Bus Stop)

Use the bus stop method to work out 135 ÷ 3. Drag the answer!

44
45
55
135 ÷ 3 =

(Hint: 3 into 13 = 4 r1  |  3 into 15 = 5  |  Answer = 0 4 5)

🧩 Drag 4: Remainders as Fractions

17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2. Write the remainder as a fraction: remainder over divisor!

1/5
2/5
3/5
17 ÷ 5 = 3 and

(Hint: remainder = 2, divisor = 5 → write as a fraction)

🧩 Drag 5: The ÷ 5 Trick

To divide by 5: divide by 10 first, then multiply by 2. Use this to find 85 ÷ 5!

15
17
19
85 ÷ 5 =

(Hint: 85 ÷ 10 = 8.5  |  8.5 × 2 = ?)

🧩 Drag 6: Remainder in Context

43 books are shared equally among 6 shelves. Use short division to find how many books go on each shelf. Drag the answer!

6
7
8
43 ÷ 6 =
remainder 1

(Hint: 6 × 7 = 42  |  43 − 42 = 1  |  Each shelf gets 7 books, 1 left over)

📝 Practice Questions

Show all your working — use the best method for each question!

  1. 72 ÷ 8 = ?
  2. 3,600 ÷ 100 = ?
  3. 48 ÷ 4 = ?  (use halving twice)
  4. 96 ÷ 4 = ?  (halve and halve again)
  5. 85 ÷ 5 = ?  (divide by 10, then × 2)
  6. Use the bus stop method to find 126 ÷ 3.
  7. Use the bus stop method to find 248 ÷ 4.
  8. Use the bus stop method to find 315 ÷ 5.
  9. Find 147 ÷ 7.
  10. Divide 4,800 by 10.
  11. 168 ÷ 8 = ?
  12. Write 23 ÷ 4 as a mixed number.
  13. Write 29 ÷ 5 as a decimal.
  14. 252 ÷ 6 = ?
  15. 7,000 ÷ 100 = ?
  16. A bag of 84 sweets is shared equally among 7 friends. How many sweets does each friend get?
  17. 196 ÷ 4 = ?
  18. Write 13 ÷ 4 as a mixed number.
  19. 136 ÷ 8 = ?
  20. 270 ÷ 9 = ?
  1. 9
  2. 36
  3. 12  (48 → 24 → 12)
  4. 24  (96 → 48 → 24)
  5. 17  (85 ÷ 10 = 8.5 → 8.5 × 2 = 17)
  6. 42
  7. 62
  8. 63
  9. 21
  10. 480
  11. 21
  12. 5¾  (23 ÷ 4 = 5 remainder 3 → 5 and ³⁄₄)
  13. 5.8  (29 ÷ 5 = 5 remainder 4 → 4 ÷ 5 = 0.8)
  14. 42
  15. 70
  16. 12 sweets
  17. 49
  18. 3¼  (13 ÷ 4 = 3 remainder 1 → 3 and ¼)
  19. 17
  20. 30

🔥 Challenge: Word Problems

Show all your working — think carefully about what to do with remainders!

  1. 96 children are put into equal groups of 8. How many groups are there?
  2. A rope is 148 cm long. It is cut into 4 equal pieces. How long is each piece?
  3. 255 stickers are shared equally among 5 children. How many does each child get?
  4. A baker has 150 eggs. She uses 6 eggs per cake. How many complete cakes can she bake?
  5. Divide 375 by 5. Then divide your answer by 3. What is the final result?
  6. A school orders 3,600 pencils, packed in boxes of 100. How many boxes are there?
  7. Work out 124 ÷ 8 and write the answer as a mixed number.
  8. Sarah runs 7 km every day. How many days will it take her to run 147 km?
  9. 450 pupils sit in rows of 9 for an assembly. How many rows are needed?
  10. A lorry carries 336 boxes per trip and makes 4 trips. All the boxes are then shared equally among 8 warehouses. How many boxes does each warehouse receive?
  1. 12 groups  (96 ÷ 8 = 12)
  2. 37 cm  (148 ÷ 4 = 37)
  3. 51 stickers  (255 ÷ 5 = 51)
  4. 25 cakes  (150 ÷ 6 = 25)
  5. 25  (375 ÷ 5 = 75 → 75 ÷ 3 = 25)
  6. 36 boxes  (3,600 ÷ 100 = 36)
  7. 15½  (124 ÷ 8 = 15 remainder 4 → 4/8 = ½)
  8. 21 days  (147 ÷ 7 = 21)
  9. 50 rows  (450 ÷ 9 = 50)
  10. 168 boxes each  (336 × 4 = 1,344 → 1,344 ÷ 8 = 168)
Created by Mr Josh