Skill: Solve one-step division equations

Division tells about equal groups:

• Total: the whole amount
• Number of groups: how many equal groups
• Amount in each group: how many in one group

Use the related multiplication fact to find the unknown.

Example

Solve:

$$36 \div n = 9$$

Step 1: Identify what each number means.

• $36$ is the total.
• $n$ is the number of equal groups.
• $9$ is the amount in each group.

So, we need to find how many groups of $9$ are in $36$.

Step 2: Use multiplication to find the unknown.

Ask:

$$? \times 9 = 36$$

Since

$$4 \times 9 = 36$$

the unknown is $4$.

Therefore,

$$n = 4$$

Step 3: Check the answer.

Replace $n$ with $4$:

$$36 \div 4 = 9$$

This is true, so the solution is correct.