Lesson 9: Choose a Strategy to Divide

Property

To choose the most effective division strategy, examine the numbers in the problem.

• Mental Math: Best when the dividend can be easily broken into numbers that are compatible with the divisor.
• Partial Quotients: A flexible method that is useful when you can easily subtract "friendly" multiples of the divisor (like 10s or 100s).
• Standard Algorithm: The most efficient, all-purpose method, especially for numbers that are not "friendly" or for larger dividends.

Examples

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To solve a division problem using an area model, the dividend is partitioned into a sum of smaller, convenient numbers. The quotient is the sum of the partial quotients found by dividing each part of the dividend by the divisor.

Examples

Property

The standard algorithm for division follows the steps: Divide, Multiply, Subtract, and Bring Down. When a remainder exists after dividing the tens, it is "unbundled" (regrouped) with the ones digit to form a new number to be divided.

Examples