Division

Division, a process in arithmetic, the converse of multiplication. It cannot be performed without a knowledge of the latter, and is essentially a systematic guess-work. Thus in dividing 37 by 13 we have first to hazard a possible answer and then see if it is right by direct multiplication. This uncertainty is diminished by experience with the divisor or number by which we are dividing, but is generally manifest when such a number contains several digits. The number divided is called the dividend, the answer is the quotient.