Division sentence

A division sentence is a number sentence used to express division. Division sentences, along with number sentences involving the other operations, are typically used in the early stages of a child's education to introduce them to how the operations are typically expressed.

What is a division sentence?

A division sentence is a type of equation for the operation of division. It is made up of 3 numbers and is usually constructed as follows:

• The first number is the total number of objects.


• The second number is the number of groups we want to divide the objects into.


• The third number is the number of objects in each group.

Parts of a division sentence

Division sentences are made up of at least 3 terms: the dividend, divisor, and quotient, as shown in the figure below.

The dividend is the total number of objects that is being divided. It is divided by the divisor, which is the number of groups of objects we want. The result is the quotient, which is the number of objects in each group. Division can be denoted in a number of different ways, including using the " / " symbol or " ÷ " symbol. For division sentences and other earlier mathematical applications, ÷ is more commonly used.

How to write a division sentence

To write a division sentence, use the following steps:

1. Determine the total number of objects and write this first, followed by the division symbol.


2. Determine how many groups of objects you want, then write this number after the division symbol, followed by an equals sign.


3. Determine the number of objects that go into each group in order to have the correct total. This is the quotient and is written after the equals sign.

Practicing division with division sentences

Division sentences can be used along with other tools such as multiplication tables (since division is the inverse operation of multiplication) to practice division. One way to do this is to use division worksheets, which assumes the student already understands the concept of division and knows at least some division facts. In such a case, worksheets with division facts with missing parts can be used for practice.

Another way to practice using division sentences is to have students write a division sentence given a word problem. This can help determine how well a student understands the concept of division while giving them practice constructing division sentences. They can also be used to help engage the student using examples that may be more applicable to them.