Partitive division: the numbers matter to young children

Jill Cheeseman, Ann Downton, Kerryn Driscoll

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Abstract

This paper contains an analysis of some early thinking of 94 young children aged 5 years 7 months to 6 years 5 months. These children were interviewed as part of a larger study of the multiplicative thinking of children who were midway through their first year of school in Australia. They had not been formally taught multiplication or division at school. Three task-based interview questions were posed using partitive contexts. The children attempted to solve 12 ÷ 3, 7 ÷ 2 and 22 ÷ 4. An analysis of the responses of these children reveals many children can solve division problems even when the numbers get larger and where the divisor is not a factor of the dividend.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUnlocking Minds in Mathematics Education
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia 6–10 July 2025, Canberra
EditorsSitti Maesuri Patahuddin, Lorraine Gaunt, Danielle Harris, Kristen Tripet
Place of PublicationAdelaide SA Australia
PublisherMathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA)
Pages109-116
Number of pages8
Edition1st
ISBN (Print)9781920846367
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2025
EventAnnual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia 2025: Unlocking Minds in Mathematics Education - University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
Duration: 6 Jul 202510 Jul 2025
Conference number: 47th
https://merga.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MERGA47-Proceedings_27June2025.pdf (Conference proceedings)

Conference

ConferenceAnnual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia 2025
Abbreviated titleMERGA 2025
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityCanberra
Period6/07/2510/07/25
Internet address

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