3rd grade · 12 facts · division

Dividing by 8

Dividing by 8 is halving three times. For 64 ÷ 8, half of 64 is 32, half of 32 is 16, and half of 16 is 8. A child who halves quickly can find any fact on this page that way, even before the 8 times table is memorized.

The facts are the 8 times table read backwards: 8 × 9 = 72, so 72 ÷ 8 = 9. As your child learns the 8s, the halving steps fade and the answers come directly.

All 12 divide-by-8 facts

  • 8 ÷ 8 = 1
  • 16 ÷ 8 = 2
  • 24 ÷ 8 = 3
  • 32 ÷ 8 = 4
  • 40 ÷ 8 = 5
  • 48 ÷ 8 = 6
  • 56 ÷ 8 = 7
  • 64 ÷ 8 = 8
  • 72 ÷ 8 = 9
  • 80 ÷ 8 = 10
  • 88 ÷ 8 = 11
  • 96 ÷ 8 = 12

Every fact here divides evenly. Division with remainders comes in 4th grade.

Printable practice sheet (PDF) — 24 problems: the 12 facts in order, then the same facts mixed up. The answer key is on page 2. Free to print, no sign-up.

Timed drill: dividing by 8

12 facts in a random order. A right answer within 3 seconds counts as by heart. Free, no sign-up, and nothing is saved: it all happens on this screen.

Type with the keypad or your keyboard, then press Check or Enter.

What to notice

If either of the first two halvings gives an odd number, the starting number does not divide by 8 with nothing left over. 36 halves to 18 and then to 9, so 36 ÷ 8 leaves a remainder; 40 halves to 20 and then 10, and 10 halves to 5, so 40 ÷ 8 = 5.

The starting numbers go up by 8, and their ones digits run 8, 6, 4, 2, 0 and repeat: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96.

Each fact has a partner from the 4s: 48 ÷ 8 = 6 and 48 ÷ 4 = 12. Dividing by 8 gives half the answer of dividing by 4.

Halving three times works because 8 is 2 × 2 × 2. The same idea explains the divide-by-4 page, which is two halvings, and it is a first look at doing a big division in smaller steps, which is how long division works later on.

How to practise at home

  • Do the halvings aloud for one fact a day: “56: 28, 14, 7.”
  • Use spider legs: 32 legs is how many spiders? That is 32 ÷ 8.
  • Practise the matching multiplication alongside: 8 × 7 = 56 and 56 ÷ 8 = 7.
  • Run the drill on this page and note the slow facts; the middle ones, 48, 56 and 64, are worth extra practice.
  • Pair each fact with the matching divide-by-4 fact and point out the doubling: 64 ÷ 4 = 16 and 64 ÷ 8 = 8. A child who sees the link can find a forgotten divide-by-8 fact from a remembered divide-by-4 one by halving the answer.

Slips to watch for

  • Halving one time too few and answering 14 for 56 ÷ 8, which is 56 ÷ 4. Count the halvings on fingers.
  • Mixing up 56 ÷ 8 and 54 ÷ 6, which are close together: their answers are 7 and 9.
  • Answering 8 for 8 ÷ 8. A number divided by itself is 1.
  • Getting lost in the halvings and stopping in the wrong place. Writing each half down, 72, 36, 18, 9, keeps the steps visible until they can be done in the head.

More math facts