Dividing by 2, 5, and 10

In 2nd grade we start with the same three tables you practised for multiplication — 2, 5, 10. Because every times table is also a division table.

How it works

You know that 2 × 6 = 12. From that you immediately also know:

12 ÷ 2 = 6 (12 sweets shared between 2 children → 6 each)
12 ÷ 6 = 2 (12 sweets bagged in groups of 6 → 2 bags)

One multiplication gives you two divisions.

Dividing by 2 — just halve it

Dividing by 2 is the same as splitting in half.

4 ÷ 2 = 2 (4 apples, half = 2)
6 ÷ 2 = 3
8 ÷ 2 = 4
10 ÷ 2 = 5
12 ÷ 2 = 6

Eight items split into two equal groups of four

See the pattern? It's always half of the dividend.

Dividing by 5 — how many fives fit in…?

You know the multiples of 5 from the hundred chart: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50.

10 ÷ 5 = 2 ("there are 2 fives in 10")
15 ÷ 5 = 3
20 ÷ 5 = 4
25 ÷ 5 = 5
30 ÷ 5 = 6

Trick: when the dividend is a multiple of 5 (ends in 5 or 0), the division comes out exactly.

Dividing by 10 — drop the zero

Multiples of 10 are the easiest. Dividing by 10 is just as easy.

20 ÷ 10 = 2 (drop the zero from 20 → 2)
30 ÷ 10 = 3
40 ÷ 10 = 4
50 ÷ 10 = 5
60 ÷ 10 = 6

Trick: if the dividend ends in 0, just drop that zero to get the answer when dividing by 10.

Remember — the times tables give you the answer

For every division ask yourself:

"What do I multiply the divisor by, to get the dividend?"

Example: 30 ÷ 5 → "what do I multiply 5 by to get 30?" → 6, because 5 × 6 = 30.

That trick works for every division. Knowing the times tables is enough.

Summary

Dividing by 2 = halve it (8 ÷ 2 = 4).
Dividing by 5 = count how many fives fit in (15 ÷ 5 = 3).
Dividing by 10 = drop the trailing zero (40 ÷ 10 = 4).
For any division, ask: "What do I multiply the divisor by?" — the times tables give the answer.