What is 42 divided by 6?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The result of dividing 42 by 6 is 7.
To understand this division, let’s break it down. Division is one of the four fundamental arithmetic operations, alongside addition, subtraction, and multiplication. It can be thought of as the process of determining how many times one number (the divisor) fits into another number (the dividend).
In this case, we have 42 as the dividend and 6 as the divisor. When you divide 42 by 6, you’re essentially asking, “How many groups of 6 can be made from 42?” To visualize this, consider the following:
- Counting by Sixes: Start counting by adding 6 repeatedly:
- 6 (1 group),
- 12 (2 groups),
- 18 (3 groups),
- 24 (4 groups),
- 30 (5 groups),
- 36 (6 groups),
- 42 (7 groups). You reach 42 after counting seven times, indicating that 6 fits into 42 exactly 7 times.
- Using Multiplication to Check: We can also confirm the result by reversing the operation: if 6 multiplied by 7 equals 42, then our division is correct. Indeed, ( 6 \times 7 = 42 ).
- Contextualizing Division: Division can also be thought of in terms of sharing. If you had 42 items and wanted to distribute them evenly among 6 people, each person would receive 7 items, demonstrating how division is applicable in real-life scenarios.
Thus, the answer to 42 divided by 6 is 7, a clear and straightforward result that showcases the fundamental nature of division in mathematics. Understanding division not only aids in solving arithmetic problems but also enhances critical thinking skills by encouraging individuals to view numbers and quantities from different perspectives.