A Simple Way to Teach Dividing by Zero

Prepare the Board

• 1

  Divide a chalkboard or whiteboard into four sections.

• 2

  At the top of each section, depict four of the same thing. For example, draw a basket containing four apples in each of the four sections.

• 3

  Below the first basket of four apples, depict four empty baskets.

• 4

  Below the second basket of apples, draw two empty baskets.

• 5

  Below the third basket of four apples, depict one empty basket.

• 6

  Leave the space below the fourth basket blank.

Conduct the Lesson

• 7

  Beginning with the first basket, ask your student(s) to tell you how many apples would be in each basket if they were evenly distributed from the basket of four apples.

• 8

  For the first basket, the shares would be one apple to each empty basket.

• 9

  For the second basket, the shares would be two apples to each empty basket.

• 10

  For the third basket, the share would be four apples to the empty basket.

• 11

  For the fourth basket, the shares would be undefined because there are no baskets to put the apples in.