Solve the Division Problem: 42 ÷ 2 Step by Step

Q: Why is 42 ÷ 2 the same as the fraction 42/2?

Division and fractions are exactly the same operation! The division symbol ÷ and the fraction bar / both mean 'divide the top number by the bottom number.'

Q: How do I know if 21 is really the right answer?

Use the multiplication check: 21 × 2 = 42. Since this equals our original number, 21 is correct! Division and multiplication are opposite operations.

Q: What if the division doesn't come out evenly?

Sometimes division gives you a remainder or a decimal. But 42 ÷ 2 works out perfectly because 42 is an even number and 2 goes into it exactly 21 times.

Q: Why does the explanation mention dividing by 2?

The explanation shows simplifying a fraction: $ \frac{42}{2} = \frac{42÷2}{2÷2} = \frac{21}{1} = 21 $. This is another way to think about the same division!

Basic Division with Simple Integers

Solve the following expression:

$\frac{42}{2}=$

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Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Solve the following expression:

$\frac{42}{2}=$

Step-by-step solution

We will divide the numerator and denominator by the highest number that both are divisible by.

In this case, the number is 2.

Then will divide the fraction as follows:

$\frac{42:2}{2:2}=\frac{21}{1}=21$

Final Answer

$21$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Division means finding how many groups of the divisor fit into the dividend
Technique: For 42 ÷ 2, think 'how many 2s make 42?' Answer: 21
Check: Multiply the answer by divisor: 21 × 2 = 42 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Confusing division direction or switching numbers
Don't solve 2 ÷ 42 instead of 42 ÷ 2 = 0.048 instead of 21! This happens when students flip the numbers accidentally. Always read carefully: the first number (42) is divided BY the second number (2).

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Write the fraction shown in the picture, in words:

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is 42 ÷ 2 the same as the fraction 42/2?

Division and fractions are exactly the same operation! The division symbol ÷ and the fraction bar / both mean 'divide the top number by the bottom number.'

How do I know if 21 is really the right answer?

Use the multiplication check: 21 × 2 = 42. Since this equals our original number, 21 is correct! Division and multiplication are opposite operations.

What if the division doesn't come out evenly?

Sometimes division gives you a remainder or a decimal. But 42 ÷ 2 works out perfectly because 42 is an even number and 2 goes into it exactly 21 times.

Can I use long division for this problem?

You could, but it's not necessary! Since you probably know that 2 × 21 = 42 from multiplication tables, you can solve this mentally. Long division is better for harder problems.

Why does the explanation mention dividing by 2?

The explanation shows simplifying a fraction: $\frac{42}{2} = \frac{42÷2}{2÷2} = \frac{21}{1} = 21$ . This is another way to think about the same division!

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