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  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Division Rules

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star
Primary curriculum
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
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This challenge is about dividing a three-digit number by a single-digit number.

Begin by deciding which number you are going to be dividing by. This is your divisor.
Your challenge is going to be to come up with some rules for this divisor.

Now generate a three-digit number. This is your dividend.

You could use the spinners here to generate the digits, you could use dice or could just use your imagination!



Now divide your dividend by your divisor. Record the answer.

Create other dividends and divide them by the same divisor. Record the answers.

Look carefully at the answers. When is the answer a whole number? When is there a remainder of 1?
Can you spot any patterns?
Can you come up with any rules?

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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