Mastering Technical Mathematics, Third Edition, 3rd Edition

4

Division

Before the days of electronic calculators and computers, division was a shortcut for counting out. To divide 28 items among 4 people, you would keep giving one to each of the four until the items were all gone, and then you would see how many each person had. Figure 4-1 shows two ways of how this could be done. Division is symbolized by using the division sign (÷) and the equation in this case is written 28 ÷ 4 = 7. In a division problem written in this way, the first number (in this case 28) is called the dividend, the second number (in this case 4) is called the divisor, and the answer (in this case 7) is called the quotient.

Figure 4-1

Two ways in which 28 items can be divided among four people so each person gets seven ...