divisible

Everyday

1. In maths, a number is divisible by another number if it can be divided by it exactly, with no remainder. tree →
2. Divisible means able to be divided or split into parts. tree →

In the lessons

In maths lessons, children learn divisibility rules: a number is divisible by 2 if it is even; by 5 if it ends in 0 or 5; by 10 if it ends in 0; by 3 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3; by 9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9. Phrases: divisible by, exactly divisible, not divisible.

Examples

• 12 is divisible by 3 because 12 ÷ 3 = 4. tree →
• 15 is not divisible by 2. tree →
• Every even number is divisible by 2. tree →
• 135 is divisible by 5 because it ends in 5. tree →
• 81 is divisible by 9: 8 + 1 = 9. tree →
• Is 100 divisible by 4? Yes, 100 ÷ 4 = 25. tree →
• The sweets were divisible equally between the four children. tree →

Note

Used with «by»: divisible by 3. Opposite: indivisible, not divisible. Spelling trap: div-I-s-I-ble, ending «-ible», not «-able». In maths: if A is divisible by B, then B is a factor of A and A is a multiple of B; dividing gives a whole number with remainder 0. A prime number is divisible only by 1 and itself.