Shares in Division

Mr. Squeaks and Imani have been summoned to the Space Racer Factory. The factory has run into a BIG problem. The distributor machine broke down during production! Mr. Squeaks and Imani have been assigned to help distribute materials into equal groups, so each space racer can be built on time. To do this, they will need to "Share by Making Equal Groups". When we set up a division problem, we have the dividend and the divisor. The DIVIDEND is the largest number that is being shared equally. The DIVISOR is the number of groups we have. We then work out how many we will have in each group! When we share in division, we are "distributing objects equally into groups". First "identify the divisor for the number of groups needed". Next, "identify the dividend for the number we need to distribute equally". Then, "share the dividend equally into each group" until none remain. Finally, "count the objects in one group to find the answer". Let's practice before you help Mr. Squeaks and Imani! The factory has eight doors to be shared equally between two space racers. We can write this as eight divided by two. THIS is our dividend, and HERE is our divisor. Set up two groups like THIS to represent the divisor. The DIVIDEND is eight, so share it between the two groups, until all objects have been distributed equally. To find the answer, look at ONE of the groups and count the total objects in the group. THIS group has FOUR doors, so the answer is four. We can restate this by saying "eight shared into two equal groups of four"! The two space racers get four doors each.
Now we know how to share equally into groups. Let's help Mr. Squeaks and Imani! There are twelve thrusters to be shared between six space racers. We can write this as twelve divided by six. How many groups do we need?

The DIVISOR is SIX, so set up six groups. How many objects are we distributing equally into each group?

We are distributing TWELVE objects equally into each group, so we begin sharing between the six groups, until all objects are distributed equally. How do we find our answer?

We look at ONE group and count how many objects are in it. THIS group has TWO thrusters, so our answer is two. We can restate this by saying "twelve shared into six equal groups of two"! The six space racers get two thrusters each. Now for the final problem. There are fifteen windscreens that need to be shared between five space racers. What is the division sentence?

It is fifteen divided by five. How many groups are needed?

The DIVISOR is FIVE, so set up five groups. How many objects are we sharing equally into groups?

The DIVIDEND is fifteen, so we are sharing FIFTEEN objects equally into each group. We begin sharing fifteen between the five groups until everything has been distributed equally. How do we find our answer?

Look at ONE group and count the objects inside. THIS group has THREE windscreens, so the answer is three. We can restate this by saying "fifteen shared into five equal groups of three"! The five space racers get three windscreens each. Mr. Squeaks and Imani have completed their assignment! Remember, to share into equal groups in division, first "identify the divisor for the number of groups needed". Next, "identify the dividend for the number we need to distribute equally". Then, "share the dividend equally into each group" until none remain. Finally, "count the objects in one group to find the answer". It looks like this space racer is ready for testing! Hang on a second, it's Mr. Squeaks and Imani! "Imani, THIS IS AWESOME! YEEEHAAAA!"