Divide by 2
Halving and sharing equally between two.
Divide by 2
Divide by 2
What you'll learn
- Division as sharing equally or making groups of 2.
- Halving — splitting into two equal parts.
- The link between ×2 and ÷2 (inverse operations).
- Reading division: 12 ÷ 2 = 6 means 12 shared between 2 gives 6 each.
Key concepts
Level 1 — Core idea
Verbal: Share 12 biscuits between 2 friends — each gets the same amount.
Symbolic: 12 ÷ 2 = 6; also 2 × 6 = 12.
Visual: Draw 12 dots; circle two equal groups → 6 in each group.
Level 2 — Going deeper
Even numbers divide by 2 exactly. Odd numbers leave remainder 1 (next topic). Halving: half of 20 = 10.
NCERT anchor
NCERT Math Mela, Class 3 — Chapter 7 (Times and Again) connects sharing and doubling. Half of a roti, half of 8 sticks — all ÷2.
Worked example
Share 18 pencils equally between 2 children.
Step 1 — Story: 18 ÷ 2 = ?
Step 2 — Think: 2 × ? = 18 → 2 × 9 = 18
Step 3 — Each child gets **9 pencils**
Check: 9 + 9 = 18 ✓
Half of 24?
Step 1 — Half means ÷ 2.
Step 2 — 24 ÷ 2 = 12
Answer: **12**
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 15 ÷ 2 = 7 and forget remainder | Ignoring leftover | 15 ÷ 2 = 7 remainder 1 |
| Dividing the smaller number | 2 ÷ 12 instead of 12 ÷ 2 | Total ÷ groups = each share |
| Using × instead of ÷ for sharing | Confusing operations | Share → divide total by people |
| Half of 7 = 3.5 at Class 3 | Odd halving without remainder | 7 ÷ 2 = 3 remainder 1 |
Quick check
- 20 ÷ 2 = ?
- Half of 16?
- 2 × 8 = 16, so 16 ÷ 2 = ?
- Stretch: 48 ÷ 2 = ? (think half of 48)
Revision tip: Every ÷2 fact is the reverse of a ×2 fact — learn them as pairs.
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Divide by 2.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Worked example
- Common mistakes
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