Chapter 0 of 14

CBSE Class 3 Mathematics★ 6–8 marks · CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Math-Magic) Chapter 12

Can We Share?

Introduction to division — equal sharing. Division as repeated subtraction. Relationship with multiplication. Simple word problems. CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Math-Magic) Chapter 12.

⏱ 8 min readMedium difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

Ask AI about this

🔤Build your vocabulary from this chapterLexiGenome mines the key words, explains them in your language, and schedules them with spaced repetition.Mine words →

By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Understand division as equal sharing: 12 ÷ 4 = 3 (12 things shared equally among 4 people, each gets 3)
2Understand division as repeated subtraction: 12 ÷ 3 = 12 − 3 − 3 − 3 − 3 = 0, so 4 times
3Relate division to multiplication: if 3 × 4 = 12, then 12 ÷ 4 = 3 (inverse relationship)
4Solve simple division word problems involving sharing money, sweets, arranging in rows, etc.
5Interpret remainders intuitively (e.g., 14 ÷ 4 = 3 remainder 2 — not all numbers divide perfectly)

💡

Why this chapter matters

Division as equal sharing is one of the most intuitive mathematical concepts — every child has shared sweets or toys. This chapter introduces division as the inverse of multiplication, teaching two methods: equal sharing (12 sweets ÷ 4 friends = 3 each) and repeated subtraction (12 − 3 − 3 − 3 − 3 = 0, so 12 ÷ 3 = 4). Understanding division deeply at this stage prevents the common fear of it later.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

🔗

Class 3 Mathematics Chapter 9: How Many Times?

Must know multiplication tables 1-10 — division is the reverse of multiplication.

Can We Share?

What is Division?

DIVISION means SHARING EQUALLY or GROUPING EQUALLY.

12 sweets shared among 4 friends: How many does EACH get?
20 students sitting in 5 rows: How many in EACH row?

When we divide, we SPLIT a number into EQUAL parts.

Mama brings 12 sweets for Riya and her 3 friends (4 children in total).

Question: How many sweets does EACH child get?

Solution: 12 ÷ 4 = 3 Each child gets 3 sweets.

Check: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 ✓

Grandma made 15 chapatis for 5 people.

Question: How many chapatis does EACH person get?

Solution: 15 ÷ 5 = 3 Each person gets 3 chapatis.

Check: 3 × 5 = 15 ✓

The school library has 20 new books to share equally among 4 classes.

Question: How many books does EACH class get?

Solution: 20 ÷ 4 = 5 Each class gets 5 books.

Division as Repeated Subtraction

Division can be thought of as REPEATED SUBTRACTION.

Example: 12 ÷ 4

Start with 12. Subtract 4 repeatedly until you reach 0.

Step	Calculation	Remaining
1	12 - 4 = 8	8
2	8 - 4 = 4	4
3	4 - 4 = 0	0

We subtracted 4 THREE times. So 12 ÷ 4 = 3.

Practice: 15 ÷ 5

Step	Calculation	Remaining
1	15 - 5 = 10	10
2	10 - 5 = 5	5
3	5 - 5 = 0	0

We subtracted 5 THREE times. So 15 ÷ 5 = 3.

Division Notation

Different Ways to Write Division

12 ÷ 4 = 3
12 / 4 = 3
1. 12 (3

Parts of Division

Term	Meaning	Example
Dividend	The number being divided	12
Divisor	The number we are dividing by	4
Quotient	The answer	3

In 12 ÷ 4 = 3:

12 is the DIVIDEND
4 is the DIVISOR
3 is the QUOTIENT

Relationship with Multiplication

Division and Multiplication are OPPOSITE operations (they are INVERSE of each other).

Fact Families

If 3 × 4 = 12, then:

12 ÷ 3 = 4
12 ÷ 4 = 3

More Fact Families

Multiplication	Division (1)	Division (2)
2 × 5 = 10	10 ÷ 2 = 5	10 ÷ 5 = 2
4 × 3 = 12	12 ÷ 4 = 3	12 ÷ 3 = 4
5 × 6 = 30	30 ÷ 5 = 6	30 ÷ 6 = 5
7 × 2 = 14	14 ÷ 7 = 2	14 ÷ 2 = 7
8 × 4 = 32	32 ÷ 8 = 4	32 ÷ 4 = 8

Key Rule: To check division, MULTIPLY the quotient by the divisor. You should get the dividend.

Division Tables (1 to 10)

Table	Divisions
2	2÷2=1, 4÷2=2, 6÷2=3, 8÷2=4, 10÷2=5, 12÷2=6, 14÷2=7, 16÷2=8, 18÷2=9, 20÷2=10
3	3÷3=1, 6÷3=2, 9÷3=3, 12÷3=4, 15÷3=5, 18÷3=6, 21÷3=7, 24÷3=8, 27÷3=9, 30÷3=10
4	4÷4=1, 8÷4=2, 12÷4=3, 16÷4=4, 20÷4=5, 24÷4=6, 28÷4=7, 32÷4=8, 36÷4=9, 40÷4=10
5	5÷5=1, 10÷5=2, 15÷5=3, 20÷5=4, 25÷5=5, 30÷5=6, 35÷5=7, 40÷5=8, 45÷5=9, 50÷5=10
10	10÷10=1, 20÷10=2, 30÷10=3, 40÷10=4, 50÷10=5, 60÷10=6, 70÷10=7, 80÷10=8, 90÷10=9, 100÷10=10

Word Problems

A farmer has 24 mangoes. He puts them equally into 6 baskets. How many mangoes in each basket?

Solution: 24 ÷ 6 = 4 mangoes per basket

Problem 2: Team Formation

There are 30 students in a class. The teacher divides them into groups of 5. How many groups?

Solution: 30 ÷ 5 = 6 groups

Problem 3: Pencil Distribution

A pack has 12 pencils. Riya wants to share them equally among 3 friends and herself (4 people). How many pencils does each get?

Solution: 12 ÷ 4 = 3 pencils each

Problem 4: Bus Seats

A school bus has 40 seats. Each bench seats 2 students. How many benches?

Solution: 40 ÷ 2 = 20 benches

Problem 5: Biscuits

A packet of biscuits has 18 biscuits. Ravi eats 3 biscuits each day. How many days will the packet last?

Solution: 18 ÷ 3 = 6 days

Problem 6: Plant Saplings

A gardener has 36 saplings. He plants them in rows of 6. How many rows?

Solution: 36 ÷ 6 = 6 rows

Division with Remainder

Sometimes division does NOT work out exactly. We get a REMAINDER.

Example: 13 ÷ 4

Think: How many groups of 4 in 13?

4 × 3 = 12 (3 groups of 4 = 12)
13 - 12 = 1 (1 left over)

13 ÷ 4 = 3 remainder 1

Example: 17 ÷ 5

Think: How many groups of 5 in 17?

5 × 3 = 15 (3 groups of 5 = 15)
17 - 15 = 2 (2 left over)

17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2

Common Mistakes

'12 ÷ 3 = 36.' — No! 12 ÷ 3 = 4. You are thinking of 12 × 3 = 36. Division is OPPOSITE of multiplication.
'Division is always exact.' — Not always! Sometimes there is a REMAINDER. 13 ÷ 4 = 3 remainder 1.
'12 ÷ 4 means 12 groups of 4.' — No! It means 12 SHARED among 4 groups. Each group gets 3.
'You can divide any number by 0.' — No! You can NEVER divide by 0. It is not defined in mathematics.
'Division and subtraction are not related.' — Division IS repeated subtraction! 12 ÷ 4 means 'how many times can I subtract 4 from 12?'

Quick Self-Test

Q1: What is 20 ÷ 4? A1: 5.

Q2: Share 15 sweets equally among 5 children. How many each? A2: 15 ÷ 5 = 3 sweets each.

Q3: If 6 × 3 = 18, what is 18 ÷ 6? A3: 3.

Q4: There are 24 students. They sit in rows of 4. How many rows? A4: 24 ÷ 4 = 6 rows.

Q5: What is 14 ÷ 3? (Write with remainder if needed) A5: 14 ÷ 3 = 4 remainder 2.

Q6: 30 marbles shared among 5 friends. Each gets how many? A6: 30 ÷ 5 = 6 marbles each.

Q7: What is the DIVIDEND in 20 ÷ 4 = 5? A7: 20 (the number being divided).

Q8: A baker has 28 buns. He puts 7 buns on each tray. How many trays? A8: 28 ÷ 7 = 4 trays.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Division as equal sharing

Total ÷ Number of groups = Amount per group. Example: 12 sweets ÷ 4 children = 3 sweets each. Check: 4 groups of 3 = 4 × 3 = 12 ✓

Draw circles (groups) and distribute dots (items) one by one. This physical 'dealing' makes division concrete.

Division as repeated subtraction

20 ÷ 5 = ? How many times can we subtract 5 from 20? 20−5=15, 15−5=10, 10−5=5, 5−5=0. We subtracted 4 times → 20 ÷ 5 = 4. OR: 20 × table of 5: 5×1=5, 5×2=10, 5×3=15, 5×4=20 → 4 times.

Repeated subtraction is division in slow motion. It shows WHY division works the way it does.

Division as inverse of multiplication

If you know 4 × 3 = 12, then you ALSO know 12 ÷ 3 = 4 AND 12 ÷ 4 = 3. Multiplication and division are opposite operations — they 'undo' each other.

This is the FASTEST way to divide: think '3 × ? = 12' or 'what number times 3 gives 12?' → 4.

Remainder (intuitive)

14 ÷ 4 = 3 remainder 2. Because 4×3=12, and 14−12=2 left over. Not all numbers divide perfectly. The remainder must be LESS than the divisor.

At Class 3 level, remainders are introduced as 'left over'. Formal remainder notation comes in Class 4.

⚠️

Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Reading 12 ÷ 4 as '12 divided into 4 equal groups' but giving answer as '4 each' instead of '3 each'

✓ 12 ÷ 4 means 12 things shared among 4. Think: if I have 12 sweets and 4 friends, each friend gets 3. Draw 4 circles, distribute sweets one by one — you'll put 3 in each.

WATCH OUT

✗ Confusing 12 ÷ 3 and 3 ÷ 12

✓ 12 ÷ 3 = 4 (12 shared among 3). 3 ÷ 12 gives a fraction (less than 1) — not taught at this level. Always: bigger number ÷ smaller number at Class 3 level.

WATCH OUT

✗ Forgetting that the remainder must be LESS than the divisor

✓ 17 ÷ 3: 3×5=15, remainder=2 (2 < 3 ✓). If you get remainder 5, you can take out another group of 3: 3×6=18 (too big, go back to 5 with remainder 2).

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Equal sharing problems

Sharing sweets, fruits, money; arranging in rows; division as repeated subtraction

Questions

Multiplication-division connection

Complete fact families (3×4=12, 4×3=12, 12÷3=4, 12÷4=3); word problems

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Sharing

18 chocolates are shared equally among 6 children. How many does each get?

▶ Show solution

18 ÷ 6 = 3 chocolates each. (Check: 6 × 3 = 18 ✓)

Q2EASY· Inverse

If 5 × 4 = 20, what is 20 ÷ 5?

▶ Show solution

20 ÷ 5 = 4. (Division undoes multiplication: if 5 groups of 4 = 20, then 20 shared among 5 = 4 each.)

Q3EASY· Rows

24 students are sitting in 4 equal rows. How many students are in each row?

▶ Show solution

24 ÷ 4 = 6 students in each row.

Q4EASY· Money

Riya has ₹30. She wants to buy pencils that cost ₹5 each. How many pencils can she buy?

▶ Show solution

30 ÷ 5 = 6 pencils. (Check: 6 × 5 = ₹30 ✓)

Q5MEDIUM· Remainder

14 marbles are shared equally among 4 children. How many does each get, and how many are left over?

▶ Show solution

14 ÷ 4: 4×3=12 (each gets 3), remainder = 14−12 = 2 marbles left over. Each child gets 3 marbles, 2 marbles remain.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Division = sharing equally. 12 ÷ 4 = 3 (12 things shared among 4 people, each gets 3)
•Division is the opposite of multiplication: if 4 × 3 = 12, then 12 ÷ 3 = 4 and 12 ÷ 4 = 3
•Division can be done as repeated subtraction: 20 ÷ 5 = subtract 5 repeatedly until 0 → 4 subtractions
•To divide, think: 'How many times does this number fit into that number?' Use multiplication tables
•Remainder: when sharing isn't exact. 14 ÷ 4 = 3 remainder 2 (2 left over). Remainder < divisor
•Always verify: (divisor × quotient) + remainder = original number

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 6–8 marks in Class 3 Mathematics assessment

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Direct division (1 mark each)	1	2	Simple division facts (using tables); completing division from given multiplication fact
Word problem (2 marks each)	2	2–3	Equal sharing — sweets, money, students in rows; division with simple remainders

Prep strategy

Use physical objects: distribute 12 buttons/chocolates among 4 plates — division is literally 'sharing'
Practice fact families: write all 4 facts — 3×6=18, 6×3=18, 18÷3=6, 18÷6=3
Real-life division: 'We have ₹100. If each samosa costs ₹10, how many can we buy?'
For every division problem, always check with multiplication: answer × divisor = original number (+ remainder if any)
Use skip counting to divide: 20 ÷ 5 = count by 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20 → 4 counts → answer is 4

AI helpers for this chapter

Generate more practice on the fly, or have the chapter explained at a different level.

⚡

Generate 5 more questions

Fresh MCQs + short-answer items based on this chapter, plus answer keys.

🧠

Explain at a different level

Re-explain the chapter at the level you actually want.

📝 My notes

Saved on this device — sign in to sync · how this works

0/600

Practice more, ask doubts, find a tutor

CBSE Class 3 mock tests

CBSE Class 3 PYQs

Ask in Q&A

Mathematics flashcards

Related chapters

Students who read Can We Share? usually read these next.

What's in a Name?

The opening chapter of CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Maths Mela). Children collect and compare simple information (data) using their own names — counting letters, finding the longest and shortest names, sorting, and showing results in tables and picture graphs. These notes give the core ideas, worked examples, an activity, common mistakes, a practice set with answers, and quick revision.

Toy Joy

A CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Maths Mela) chapter on solid (3D) shapes — cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, and sphere. Using toys and everyday objects, children explore flat and curved surfaces and notice which shapes roll, slide, and stack. These notes give the core ideas, worked examples, an activity, common mistakes, a practice set with answers, and quick revision.

Double Century

A CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Maths Mela) chapter that takes numbers beyond 100 up to 200 — a "double century". Children read, write, and compare numbers to 200, build them from hundreds, tens, and ones, estimate quantities, and spot number patterns. These notes give core ideas, worked examples, an activity, common mistakes, a practice set with answers, and quick revision.

Vacation with My Nani Maa

A CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Maths Mela) chapter that practises addition and subtraction through a holiday with Nani Maa (grandmother). Children add and take away with two- and three-digit numbers, estimate totals, and solve real-life word problems. These notes give core ideas, worked examples, an activity, common mistakes, a practice set with answers, and quick revision.