How to explain divide a two-digit number by a one-digit number: word problems: Example question
31 October 2026
Dividing a two-digit number by a one-digit number often comes up in everyday situations, like sharing or packing items equally. Helping your child see these problems as simple sharing tasks makes them less daunting and easier to understand.
Example question
A baker has 48 cupcakes. She wants to pack them equally into 6 boxes. How many cupcakes will go in each box?
Step 1: Understand the problem
We need to divide 48 cupcakes into 6 equal boxes.
Step 2: Write the division 48 ÷ 6
Step 3: Divide
6 goes into 48 exactly 8 times because 6 × 8 = 48.
Step 4: Answer
Each box will have 8 cupcakes.
Key insight: Dividing a two-digit number by a one-digit number means sharing the total equally into groups.
After working through this example, your child will recognise how to break down similar word problems into clear steps. They are now ready to practise more questions just like this, building confidence with division in real-life scenarios.
