The purpose of this activity is to see that some equivalent ways of rewriting a division expression are more helpful than others for finding its value. In particular expressions, the value of which can be calculated mentally, are most helpful. This supports students in choosing their own ways of breaking up the dividend when they use a partial-quotients algorithm in future lessons.

When they identify expressions to find the value of a specific quotient, students notice that dividends readily identifiable as multiples of 14 are most useful for finding the value of the quotient (MP7).

This activity uses MLR2 Collect and Display. Advances: conversing, reading, writing.

• “How did you choose these expressions?”
• Choose a set of expressions that, when added together, has a value that is the same as the value of