Thread: need help demonstrating concept of basic division to child

Hello,
I am trying to help my daughter understand division. I have always beeen "maths anxious" so i would like to help her avoid that.
Some web sites posit division as being the "reverse of multiplication" i.e. multiple subtractions. Some posit division as "separation into pieces".
My understanding is that in the first instance 22/2= 11 (i.e. 11 groups of 2s) but that in the second instance 22/2= 11 (i.e. 2 groups of 11s).
I would really appreciate some advice on which method and therefore which "visual image" I would use to provide the best foundation for a child's growing understanding of math.
Thank you so much.

Wait, 22/2 is 22 divided by two, which is similar in some way to:

You have $22 and you divide it between your two children, and each get $11.

If you had 22/11, then you have 11 groups of 2s.


You can give her basic concepts about division, like sharing money just like I used here, sharing pieces of cake (and at the same time maybe introduce fractions!), the separation of a group for exploration (eg. a group of 10 people splitting into 2 groups of 5, where you get 10/2 = 5), etc.

Personally, I would introduce division as a reverse of multiplication later, when she gets to know the concept better. Because this knowledge comes in most handy when solving equations.

Try getting a number of lollies and asking her to share them evenly between a certain number of people.

Get a few bags of lollies and ask her to share them evenly into lolly bags for a party. Then ask her how many of each kind of lolly has ended up in each bag...