Divide and Conquer: Mastering Division by 4!

Hi Super Solvers! You were fantastic learning your 4 times table for multiplication, especially with the “double-double” trick. Now, get ready to use that knowledge (and a cool new “halve-halve” trick!) to become a champion at dividing by 4! Remember, division is the inverse (or opposite) of multiplication, so if you know your 4x facts, you’re already on your way!

Multiplication’s Best Friend: How it Helps with Dividing by 4

When you see a division problem like “32 ÷ 4 = ?”, it’s asking, “How many groups of 4 can fit into 32?” or “What number, when multiplied by 4, gives me 32?” Your 4 times table multiplication facts hold the key!

If you know: 8 × 4 = 32

Then you instantly know the division fact: 32 ÷ 4 = 8

They belong to the same “fact family”!

Division Facts for the 4 Times Table (up to 48÷4):

• 4 ÷ 4 = 1
• 8 ÷ 4 = 2
• 12 ÷ 4 = 3
• 16 ÷ 4 = 4
• 20 ÷ 4 = 5
• 24 ÷ 4 = 6
• 28 ÷ 4 = 7
• 32 ÷ 4 = 8
• 36 ÷ 4 = 9
• 40 ÷ 4 = 10
• 44 ÷ 4 = 11
• 48 ÷ 4 = 12

Amazing Tricks for Recalling Division by 4 Facts!

• Think Multiplication First! This is your number one strategy! When you see “28 ÷ 4 = ?”, immediately ask yourself: “What number times 4 equals 28?” (The answer is 7, so 28 ÷ 4 = 7).
• The “Halve-Halve” Trick! Just like multiplying by 4 is “double-double,” dividing by 4 is the opposite: halve the number, then halve the answer! This works because dividing by 4 is the same as dividing by 2, and then dividing by 2 again.
  • Example: For 32 ÷ 4:
    • Half of 32 is 16.
    • Half of 16 is 8.
    • So, 32 ÷ 4 = 8! Fantastic!
• Counting in Fours (Backwards or Forwards): If you’re stuck on 20 ÷ 4, you can count up in fours (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 – that was 5 jumps) or try to count backwards from 20 in steps of 4.
• Sharing into 4 Equal Groups: Imagine you have a number of items and want to share them fairly into 4 groups. How many in each group? That’s dividing by 4.

Practice Your Division by 4 Power! (18 Questions)

Time to show off your brilliant division by 4 skills! Here are 18 quick questions. Try using the “halve-halve” trick or your multiplication knowledge. You can do it!

(Your web app with the 18 questions will go here. Questions should be recall-based, like “36 ÷ 4 = ?”, “? ÷ 4 = 5”, or “How many groups of 4 are in 16?”.)

Why is Knowing Your Division by 4 Facts So Helpful?

• Speeds Up Division: Quick recall is essential for more complex division problems later on.
• Helps with Quarters and Fractions: Understanding how to divide by 4 helps when you learn about finding a quarter (1/4) of something.
• Real-World Problem Solving: Sharing things into four groups, working out how many teams of four you can make, etc.
• Boosts Your Maths Brain: Every set of facts you master makes your brain stronger and more flexible!

Tips for Grown-Ups: Making Division by 4 Practice Fun!

A strong recall of 4 times table multiplication facts and understanding the “halve-halve” strategy are key to mastering division by 4.

• Champion the “Halve-Halve” Trick: This is often a very intuitive method for children who are comfortable with halving.
• Link to Multiplication Always: Continuously ask, “What times 4 gives you that number?” to reinforce the inverse relationship.
• Fact Family Fun: Use triangle flashcards (e.g., with 4, 7, 28) to show all four related multiplication and division facts.
• Practical Sharing: Use real objects (buttons, pasta, toys) and ask your child to share them into 4 equal groups.
• Quick Quizzes: Mix division by 4 questions with multiplication by 4 questions to keep them on their toes!
• Celebrate “Aha!” Moments: When they successfully use a trick like “halve-halve” or link to multiplication, praise their clever thinking!