Dividing by 5, step by step
Fives are the table most kids can already chant, so dividing by 5 is mostly counting beats you already know.
The question
40 ÷ 5
40÷5
5×?=40
5×8=40
40÷5=8
8×5=40
- 40 ÷ 5 means sharing 40 out equally between 5. Deal them round one at a time until they run out; the answer is how many end up in one share.
- Dealing out 40 one at a time works, and takes all day. The shortcut is the same fact read backwards: 5 shares of WHAT makes 40?
- 5 × 8 = 40. That is the one, so 40 ÷ 5 = 8.
- Worth checking, because it costs one multiplication: 8 × 5 = 40. It matches, so the answer holds.
How it works.
- 01
40 ÷ 5 means sharing 40 out equally between 5. Deal them round one at a time until they run out; the answer is how many end up in one share.
- 02
Dealing out 40 one at a time works, and takes all day. The shortcut is the same fact read backwards: 5 shares of WHAT makes 40?
- 03
5 × 8 = 40. That is the one, so 40 ÷ 5 = 8.
- 04
Worth checking, because it costs one multiplication: 8 × 5 = 40. It matches, so the answer holds.