÷

Definition

The division symbol, also known as the obelus, represents the mathematical operation of division. It indicates that the number or expression to the left of the symbol is to be divided by the number or expression to the right of the symbol. This key term is crucial in understanding various mathematical concepts, including finding multiples and factors, solving equations using integers, and multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The division symbol, ÷, is used to indicate that the number or expression to the left is to be divided by the number or expression to the right.
2. Division is the inverse operation of multiplication, and it can be used to find the number of times one quantity is contained in another.
3. The division property of equality states that if two expressions are equal, and you divide both sides by the same non-zero number, the resulting expressions will still be equal.
4. When multiplying and dividing fractions, the division symbol is often replaced by the reciprocal of the divisor fraction and then multiplied.
5. The division of mixed numbers and complex fractions can be simplified by first converting them to improper fractions and then applying the standard division algorithm.

Review Questions

• How can the division symbol, ÷, be used to find multiples and factors of a number?
  • The division symbol, ÷, can be used to find multiples and factors of a number. To find the multiples of a number, you can divide the number by various integers, and the resulting quotients will be the multiples. Conversely, to find the factors of a number, you can divide the number by various integers, and the divisors that result in a whole number quotient will be the factors of the original number.
• Explain how the division property of equality can be used to solve equations using integers.
  • The division property of equality states that if two expressions are equal, and you divide both sides by the same non-zero number, the resulting expressions will still be equal. This property can be used to solve equations involving integers by isolating the variable on one side of the equation. By dividing both sides of the equation by the coefficient of the variable, you can find the value of the variable that satisfies the equation.
• Describe how the division symbol, ÷, is used when multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers.
  • When multiplying and dividing fractions, the division symbol, ÷, is often replaced by the reciprocal of the divisor fraction and then multiplied. This is known as the reciprocal property of division. For mixed numbers and complex fractions, the division can be simplified by first converting them to improper fractions and then applying the standard division algorithm. The division symbol is used to indicate the operation, and the resulting quotient represents the final answer.

Related terms

Dividend:

The number that is being divided in a division operation.

Divisor:

The number by which the dividend is being divided.

Quotient:

The result of a division operation, representing how many times the divisor goes into the dividend.