Dividend

The dividend is the total quantity that is to be divided into equal parts.

For example, Allen has 20 books and wants to distribute them equally among his 5 friends. 

Here, the number of books = 20

 
Number of friends = 5

Hence, the dividend is 20, and the divisor is 5.

20 ÷ 5 = 4

Thus, the quotient is 4, so each friend receives 4 books.

The number that is divided by another is the dividend, which represents equal parts in division.

1. Division equation: the number before the division symbol is the dividend.
 

2. Long division method: the number inside the long division symbol is the dividend.

 

3. Fraction: the top number is the dividend.

Dividend is one of the most important elements of the division process, where we have to follow the formula to get the correct result.

The formula for finding the dividend is:
Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder 

Here is an example to illustrate the formula:

The divisor = 5
Quotient = 2 
Remainder = 0 

Find the dividend. 

Using the formula, we find the dividend:

• Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder 
• Dividend = (5 × 2) + 0 = 10

Therefore, the value of the dividend is 10. 
 

The division process consists of four parts:

• Dividend: A number that is being divided by a divisor. 

• Divisor: A number that divides the dividend. 

• Quotient: The final result obtained when the divisor divides the dividend. 

• Remainder: It is the leftover integer that we get after division. If the dividend is completely divisible by the divisor, the remainder is zero. If it is not completely divisible, the remainder will be a non-zero number. 
   

Refer to this image for a clearer understanding of the terms used in division. 
 

Understanding the difference between dividend and divisor helps students distinguish between the two elements. In division, the dividend and divisor are essential to perform the process. 

Understanding the concept of a dividend helps students solve mathematical problems and avoid confusion. Given below are some tips and tricks to keep in mind:

• When the divisor is greater than the dividend, the quotient will be a decimal number or a fraction.
  
  For example, 89 ÷ 100 = 0.89 
   
• If a number is divided by itself, the quotient is 1, and the remainder is zero.
  
  For instance, 26 ÷ 26 = 1
   
• If we divide a dividend by 1, the answer will be the dividend itself. 
  
  For example, 45 ÷ 1 = 45
   
• If the remainder is zero, it means that the dividend is completely divisible by the divisor. 
  
  For instance, 12 ÷ 2 
  6 as the quotient. 
  0 as the remainder. 

Dividend, divisor, quotient, and remainder are the four main elements of division. The concept of dividends plays an essential role in various real-life situations, such as:
 

• Distribution and sharing: If we wish to divide 20 pencils among 10 students, the total number of pencils each student gets can be found using division. Here, the dividend is 20, whereas the divisor is 10, and the result is 2. Therefore, each student will receive 2 pencils. 
   
• Banking and financial transactions: The profits of a company are equally shared among the shareholders, and the management uses the profit as dividends to calculate the share of each shareholder. 
   
• Time management: If students need to prepare for their examinations, they can allocate their time accordingly to avoid timing issues. For example, if a student needs to study 10 hours a day, and he has 5 subjects, he can devote 2 hours to each subject. 
   
• Cooking and serving: When we serve a 12-piece pizza to 4 people, the number of pieces represents the dividend, and the number of people is the divisor. Hence, each of them will get 3 pieces.