Word problems with division often involve sharing from a total number. Take note which number is the dividend and which should be the divisor to solve the problem correctly.
Example:
Rosie has 60 sweets. If she gave her friends 3 sweets each, how many friends can she share her sweets with?
Solution:
[60 sweets] ÷ [3 for each friend]
60 ÷ 3 = 20 friends
Dividing can also be seen as a number of times that one quantity can be taken from a total. Take note what the question is asking for – sometimes the question may ask for the remainder rather than the quotient.
Example:
Sam has RM17. He wants to buy some hot dogs at RM3 each.
a) How many hot dogs can he buy?
b) How much money would he have left?
Solution:
[RM17] ÷ [3 per hot dog]
17 ÷ 3 = 5 R 2
a) He can buy 5 hot dogs (Answer from the quotient)
b) He would have RM2 left (Answer from the remainder)
The following video gives some examples of word problems that require different types of operations.