72 Divided By 9: A Simple Math Problem With A Surprising Answer

The Basics of Division

Division is one of the fundamental operations in mathematics. It involves splitting a number into equal parts, called quotients. For example, if you have 10 apples and you want to divide them equally among 2 people, you would give each person 5 apples. The symbol used for division is the forward slash (/), and it is often read as “divided by”. So, 10 divided by 2 is written as 10/2 and equals 5.

The Problem of 72 Divided by 9

Now, let’s tackle the problem of 72 divided by 9. We can write this as 72/9. To solve this problem, we need to ask ourselves how many times 9 goes into 72. We can do this by using long division or by using mental math. Let’s try both methods.

Method 1: Long Division

To use long division, we first write the problem in a specific format. We write the dividend (the number being divided) on top, the divisor (the number we are dividing by) on the left, and draw a line underneath. Then, we divide the first digit of the dividend by the divisor and write the quotient above the line. We multiply the quotient by the divisor and write the result underneath the dividend. We then subtract the result from the first digit of the dividend and bring down the next digit. We repeat this process until we have a remainder of 0 or a repeating pattern.

Using long division, we can solve 72/9 as follows:

So, 72 divided by 9 equals 8. This means that 9 goes into 72 8 times, with no remainder.

Method 2: Mental Math

If you prefer not to use long division, you can use mental math to solve 72 divided by 9. One way to do this is to think of 9 times a number that equals 72. We can start with 9 times 7, which equals 63. Then, we can add 9 to 63 to get 72. Therefore, 9 times 8 equals 72.

The Surprising Answer

Now that we know that 72 divided by 9 equals 8, let’s think about what this means. When we divide a number by another number, we are essentially asking how many times the second number fits into the first number. In this case, we are asking how many times 9 fits into 72. The answer is 8. But what is surprising about this?

Well, if we add up the digits of 72, we get 7+2=9. This means that 72 is divisible by 9. In fact, any number whose digits add up to a multiple of 9 is also divisible by 9. For example, 54 (5+4=9) and 99 (9+9=18) are both divisible by 9.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. The answer to the seemingly simple problem of 72 divided by 9 is 8. But this problem also illustrates the fascinating properties of numbers and how they relate to each other. Division is just one of many operations that we can use to explore the world of mathematics.

Whether you prefer using long division or mental math, the process of dividing numbers is an essential skill that we use in many areas of life. From cooking and baking to calculating expenses and budgets, division helps us make sense of the world around us. So, next time you come across a division problem, remember that there is always a solution, no matter how simple or complex the problem may seem.