Dividing using a Number Line

Mr. Squeaks is trying to get a closer look at the moon using his plane. There's just one problem: He can't take off from the runway safely because it is too dark! It looks like Mr. Squeaks has an idea. He wants to use the fireflies to light up the runway! Before he can do that, he needs to come up with a plan so the lights are divided evenly along the runway. Since it is twelve metres long, we will help Mr. Squeaks divide pairs of lights evenly using "Division on a Number Line". Mr. Squeaks would like to place a pair of lights every six metres on the runway, and he wants to use a NUMBER LINE the same length as the runway to help him. First, we will be calculating TWELVE divided by SIX. Before we start, let's review the parts of a division problem. The DIVIDEND is the number being divided, in this case the number twelve. The DIVISOR, or the number we are dividing by, is six. We will then divide the dividend by the divisor to find the answer. To find the answer using a number line we can follow three easy steps. First, circle the DIVIDEND on the number line. Here the DIVIDEND is the number TWELVE. Secondly, count up the number line in steps of SIX, the DIVISOR, to the DIVIDEND. Let's count in steps of six together! Six, twelve! The third step is to count the number of jumps we took to get to the answer. Let's count them together! One, two. Twelve divided by six equals two. Mr. Squeaks places two pairs of lights along the runway. Oh no, it's not bright enough! Let's help Mr. Squeaks place a pair of lights every four metres. That means we will solve TWELVE divided by FOUR. First, circle the DIVIDEND on the number line. In this case the number TWELVE. What is the second step? Count up the number line in steps of FOUR, the DIVISOR, to TWELVE. Let's count together! Four, eight, twelve! What is the number of jumps? The number of jumps is three, so twelve divided by four equals three. Let's see if that's enough light for the runway now. It's better, but still not safe enough. Mr. Squeaks thinks if we put a pair of lights every two metres, he will finally be able to fly. Let's help him calculate to see if he's right! What is the first step? First, circle the the number TWELVE. What is the second step? Secondly, count up the number line in steps of TWO to TWELVE. This time, try counting on your own to see if you can find the answer. When you count in steps of TWO up the number line, you will find that twelve divided by two equals six, which means Mr. Squeaks has six pairs of lights along the runway now. Remember, to find the answer using a number line you can follow three easy steps. The first step is to circle the DIVIDEND on the number line. The second step is to find the DIVISOR and count up the number line in steps of that number to the DIVIDEND. The third step is to count the number of jumps to get the answer. Let's check in with Mr. Squeaks to see if he has enough light for the runway now! Weeeee! I think Mr. Squeaks forgot something...