This division meaning answers for 3rd Grade covers understanding division (Common Core 3.OA.A.2, 3.OA.A.4, 3.OA.B.6), with a free PDF to print.
This answer key shows a full solution for each of the 20 problems on the division meaning worksheet. Look at how every division is turned into a missing factor, and check each quotient by multiplying it by the divisor.
Grade 3 · Common Core State Standards: 3.OA.A.2, 3.OA.A.4, 3.OA.B.6
Division meaning answers: exercises 1 to 10
Exercise 1 – Sharing or grouping?
Each bag has a set size of 3, and we find the number of bags: grouping (\(15 \div 3 = 5\) bags).
The total is split among 3 friends, and we find how many each gets: sharing (\(15 \div 3 = 5\) apples each).
Exercise 2 – Counters in boxes
12 counters are shared equally in 3 boxes: \(12 \div 3 = 4\). Check: \(3 \times 4 = 12\). Answer: 4 counters in each box.
12 ÷ 3 = 4.
Exercise 3 – Boxes of five
Each box holds 5, so find how many 5s are in 15: \(15 \div 5 = 3\). Check: \(3 \times 5 = 15\). Answer: 3 boxes.
Ask: 7 times what number is 28? The equation is \(7 \times ? = 28\). Since \(7 \times 4 = 28\), the unknown is 4. Answer: \(28 \div 7 = 4\).
Exercise 6 – Find the missing factor
Count by 3s: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27. That is 9 numbers, so \(3 \times 9 = 27\). Answer: 9.
Exercise 7 – Columns in an array
\(24 \div 4 = ?\), and \(4 \times 6 = 24\). Answer: 6 squares in each row.
6 squares in each of 4 rows.
Exercise 8 – Use a multiplication fact
The fact says 5 groups of 9 make 45, so 45 split into 5 groups gives 9 in each. Answer: \(45 \div 5 = 9\).
Exercise 9 – Missing total
A total split into 4 groups gives 7 in each group, so the total is \(4 \times 7 = 28\). Check: \(28 \div 4 = 7\). Answer: 28.
Exercise 10 – Missing divisor
Ask: 6 times what number is 30? \(6 \times 5 = 30\). Check: \(30 \div 5 = 6\). Answer: 5.
Exercises 11 and up
Exercise 11 – Tape diagram of ribbons
\(72 \div 8 = ?\), and \(8 \times 9 = 72\). Answer: 9.
Each part is 9.
Exercise 12 – Equation with the unknown first
The right side must equal 5. A total split into 3 equal groups gives 5 in each, so the total is \(3 \times 5 = 15\). Check: \(15 \div 3 = 5\). Answer: 15.
Division finds the size of each group or the number of groups.
In 24 ÷ 4 = 6, the 24 is the dividend, the 4 is the divisor, and the 6 is the quotient.
Dividing 42 by 6 asks: 6 times what number makes 42?
An unknown can be in any spot, as in 8 × ? = 48, ? ÷ 3 = 5, or 24 ÷ ? = 8.
Check any division answer by multiplying the quotient by the divisor.
How to use this division meaning answers
Cover each solution, solve the exercise again, then uncover it and compare every line. If your answer differs, find the first step that changed and redo the exercise from there.
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