Divide into or divide in?

ROBINDESBOIS · #1 May 16, 2010, 04:27 PM

DIFFERENCE?

laepelba · #2 May 16, 2010, 06:53 PM

There may be a slight difference. If you use them in context, in sentences, it will help.

"Divide into" usually means to separate a thing or a group of things into parts: I have divided my class into five groups of students. OR Divide 15 into 90.

**Rusty** · #3 May 16, 2010, 07:05 PM

You divide a number into another number.
You divide something into halves, thirds.
You divide a square into triangles, or into rectangles.
Or, you can divide a square in half.

The first three are using into because there is a noun on both sides of the equation (both a divisor and a dividend are mentioned).
The last sentence uses in because an adverbial prepositional phrase is used instead of a noun.

I hope that makes sense.

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Divide into or divide in?

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