Go Math! Grade 4, Chapter 4: Divide by 1-Digit Numbers
In this unit, your child divides numbers up to four digits by a one-digit number, estimating with friendly numbers, sharing out by place value, and finding remainders. They learn to decide what a remainder means in a story problem. It follows the two-digit multiplying unit and leads into factors, multiples, and patterns.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Chapter 4?
- Solving multi-step division stories, and choosing whether to drop the remainder, round up, or use it as the answer. Learn more: Multi-step story problems and leftovers
- Dividing up to four digits by one digit with partial quotients and the long division steps, then checking by multiplying. Learn more: Dividing with remainders, like 87 ÷ 5
Sample questions to try together
These are real questions from our practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
A class of 28 students splits into 4 equal teams for a game. Then 2 new students join one of the teams. How many students are on that team now?
- 9
- 7
- 30
How you can help
- Count out 75 dried beans and ask your child to share them among 4 people. Ask how many each gets and how many are left over, then check by multiplying back.
- Ask a remainder question about an outing: "29 kids are going on a trip and each van holds 6. How many vans?" Talk about why the answer is 5, not 4 R5.
- Estimate a quotient with friendly numbers before dividing. For 247 ÷ 6, ask your child why 240 ÷ 6 = 40 is a good start, then finish the problem.
Where kids can get stuck
- Writing 58 ÷ 4 as 12 R10, not seeing that the 10 left over holds two more groups of 4.
- Answering "4 R5 vans" instead of deciding that a fifth van is needed.
- Skipping the zero in a quotient, so 618 ÷ 3 becomes 26 instead of 206.
Practice makes perfect
Bobby's Math Club has practice problems that adapt to your child’s level, each with a detailed explanation and an easy-to-follow video, so your child can build confidence in these skills one step at a time.
Words your child will hear
- quotient
- The answer to a division problem.
- dividend
- The number being divided, like 87 in 87 ÷ 5.
- divisor
- The number you divide by, like 5 in 87 ÷ 5.
- remainder
- The amount left over when a number can't be split into equal groups exactly.
- partial quotients
- Dividing in chunks, like taking out 10 groups and then 5 more, and adding the chunks.
- estimate
- A close guess, often made with rounded numbers, to check whether an answer makes sense.
- interpret
- To decide what an answer, like a remainder, means in the story.
Ready to build your child’s confidence with dividing by one digit?
In Bobby's Math Club, your child practices these skills at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free.
Join the club
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Which math standards does Go Math! Grade 4 Chapter 4 cover?
Go Math! Grade 4 Chapter 4 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
For teachers: Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence. Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow.