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Division vocabulary for math and biology

This list covers two very different uses of the word division: the math process of splitting numbers into equal groups, and the biological process of a cell splitting into new cells. It suits upper-elementary math students, middle-school life science classes, and anyone reviewing both topics for a test. Sort the words by subject first, then study each group's terms in the order a real division problem or cell cycle would follow.

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Division vocabulary for math and biology

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
dividendnounA sum of money paid regularly by a company to its shareholders from its profits.The company increased its quarterly dividend after a strong year of sales.
divisornounA number by which another number is divided.In the equation twenty divided by four equals five, four is the divisor.
quotientnounThe result of dividing one number or expression by another.The quotient of 36 divided by 9 is 4.
remaindernounThe part of something that is left over after the rest has been used, removed, or accounted for.He spent the remainder of the afternoon cleaning out the garage.
factornounA number multiplied by another number to produce a product; for integers, a factor divides another integer without a remainder.In 3 × 8 = 24, both 3 and 8 are factors of 24.
multiplenounA number obtained by multiplying a given number by an integer.Twenty-four is a multiple of 6 because 6 × 4 = 24.
fractionnounA number written as one quantity divided by another, with a numerator and a nonzero denominator.The fraction 3/4 represents three of four equal parts of a whole.
rationounA comparison of two quantities by division.The ratio of red beads to blue beads is 2 to 3.
partitionnounA wall, screen, or barrier that divides a room, space, or territory into separate parts.A thin partition separated the two small offices in the shared workspace.
mitosisnounThe process by which a cell divides its nucleus to produce two genetically identical daughter cells.Mitosis allows a single fertilized egg to develop into billions of cells with the same DNA.
meiosisnounA type of cell division that produces reproductive cells containing half the usual number of chromosomes.The biology class studied how meiosis creates genetic variation among offspring.
chromosomenounA thread-like structure of tightly coiled DNA that carries genes and passes hereditary information to offspring.Humans typically have forty-six chromosomes arranged in twenty-three pairs within each cell.
cytokinesisnounThe process in which the cytoplasm of a single cell divides to form two separate daughter cells.Cytokinesis follows the division of the nucleus, splitting the cell into two.
chromatidnounOne of the two identical strands formed when a chromosome duplicates before cell division.Each replicated chromosome consists of two sister chromatids joined at the centromere.
centromerenounThe region of a chromosome where the two sister chromatids join and spindle fibers attach during cell division.The centromere ensures that chromosomes separate evenly when a cell divides.
spindlenounA slender rod used to twist and wind fiber into thread, or any similar rotating shaft.She used a wooden spindle to spin the wool into yarn.
interphasenounThe stage of the cell cycle in which a cell grows and copies its DNA before dividing.A cell spends most of its life in interphase, preparing before it divides.
prophasenounThe first stage of cell division, in which chromosomes condense and become visible.During prophase, the nuclear membrane begins to break down inside the cell.
metaphasenounThe stage of cell division in which chromosomes line up along the middle of the cell before separating.During metaphase, the chromosomes align at the cell's equator, ready to be pulled apart.
anaphasenounThe stage of cell division in which chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell.During anaphase, the sister chromatids are pulled apart toward opposite poles of the spindle.
telophasenounThe final stage of cell division in which chromosomes reach opposite ends of the cell and new nuclei form.During telophase, the chromosomes decondense and a nuclear membrane re-forms around each set.
nucleusnounThe central part of an atom or cell that contains most of its mass or genetic material.The cell's nucleus holds the DNA that directs its growth and function.
cytoplasmnounThe jelly-like material inside a cell, excluding the nucleus, where most cellular activities occur.Organelles such as mitochondria float within the cytoplasm of the cell.
algorithmnounA precise set of step-by-step instructions used to solve a problem or complete a task, especially by a computer.The search engine uses a complex algorithm to rank websites by relevance.
estimateverbTo roughly calculate or judge the value, size, amount, or cost of something.The contractor estimated that the renovation would take about six weeks to finish.
arraynounAn impressive, organized display or collection of a large number of things.The bakery window showed an array of pastries in every imaginable flavor.
groupingnounA collection of people or things gathered together and treated as a single category.The census organizes households into groupings based on income and location.
cell cyclenounThe sequence of stages a cell goes through as it grows and divides into two cells.Cancer often results from errors that disrupt the normal cell cycle.
binary fissionnounA method of asexual reproduction in which a single cell divides into two genetically identical daughter cells.Bacteria multiply rapidly through binary fission when conditions are warm and food is plentiful.
repeated subtractionnounA method of dividing numbers by subtracting the same value over and over until nothing or less than that value remains.Using repeated subtraction, twelve divided by four takes three subtractions to reach zero.

Long division vocabulary

Long division has its own set of terms worth memorizing in order. The dividend is the number being split, the divisor is the number it's split by, and the quotient is the answer. Anything left over is the remainder. Estimating first and using repeated subtraction are common strategies for checking whether a quotient makes sense before writing down a final answer.

Cell division vocabulary

Cell division vocabulary describes how a single cell becomes two. Mitosis produces two identical cells for growth and repair, while meiosis produces four different cells used in reproduction. Both processes move through phases such as prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, during which chromosomes made of chromatids are pulled apart by the spindle before the original cell finally splits through cytokinesis.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?

Mitosis creates two identical cells for growth and repair, while meiosis creates four genetically different cells used in reproduction.

What do dividend and divisor mean in a division problem?

The dividend is the number being divided, and the divisor is the number you divide it by; the result is called the quotient.