Chapter 8: Fair Share

Aunty brings home 12 gulab jamuns. There are 4 children. How many will each get? Sharing equally is a problem we solve every day. It has a name in maths , division.

What we'll learn

• Share things equally among friends.
• Understand division as the opposite of multiplication.
• Use the division sign ÷.
• Find what is left over (the remainder).
• Connect halving and doubling.

The big idea

Dividing means breaking a big group into equal smaller groups. If 12 laddoos are shared among 4 children, each child should get the same number. We can deal them out one by one , like distributing cards. Each child ends up with 3 laddoos. So 12 ÷ 4 = 3.

Division is the reverse of multiplication. We know 4 × 3 = 12. So 12 ÷ 4 = 3 and 12 ÷ 3 = 4. Multiplication tables help us divide quickly.

Sometimes things do not share equally. If we have 13 laddoos for 4 children, each gets 3 and 1 is left over. That leftover is called the remainder. We write: 13 ÷ 4 = 3, remainder 1.

Halving is a special kind of dividing , sharing between 2. Half of 10 is 5. Half of 20 is 10. Whenever we cut a roti in two equal parts, we are dividing by 2.

Let's explore

Laddoo share. Take 15 small paper circles as laddoos. Share them among 3 friends (or toys). How many for each?

Pair up. Stand in a group of 12 children. Make pairs. How many pairs? Now make groups of 4. How many groups?

Half a roti. Draw a roti. Cut it into 2 equal pieces. Draw another and cut it into 4 equal pieces. Which piece is bigger , half or quarter?

Leftover game. Take 17 pebbles. Try sharing them among 5 friends. How many does each get? How many remain?

Worked examples

Example 1. Share 18 mangoes equally among 6 children. How many for each?

• We know 6 × 3 = 18.
• So 18 ÷ 6 = 3.
• Each child gets 3 mangoes.

Example 2. 20 chocolates among 4 friends.

• 4 × 5 = 20.
• 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
• Each friend gets 5 chocolates.

Example 3. Share 14 pencils among 3 children equally.

• 3 × 4 = 12. That uses 12 pencils.
• 14 − 12 = 2 are left.
• Each child gets 4 pencils, and 2 remain.

Quick check

1. Share 16 toffees equally among 4 children. How many each?
2. What is 25 ÷ 5?
3. Half of 18 is ?
4. Share 19 marbles among 4 friends. How many each? How many left over?
5. Is 21 ÷ 3 the same as 21 ÷ 7?

Recap

• Division means sharing equally or grouping equally.
• Division is the reverse of multiplication.
• A remainder is what is left over when sharing does not work out evenly.