A dividend in math is the number that is being divided in a division problem.

Simple definition

In any division, you break one total amount into equal parts, and that total amount is called the dividend.

For example, in 12÷3=412\div 3=412÷3=4, the 12 is the dividend because it is the number being split into 3 equal groups.

Where you see the dividend

  • In 12÷3=412\div 3=412÷3=4, the dividend is 12 (the number on the left of the division sign).
  • In the long-division layout, the dividend is the number written under the bracket.
  • In fraction form ab\frac{a}{b}ba​, the numerator (top number, aaa) is the dividend.

How it relates to other parts

In a division problem you usually have:

  • Dividend : number being divided.
  • Divisor : number you are dividing by.
  • Quotient : the answer to the division.
  • Remainder : what is left over if it does not divide evenly.

These parts follow the formula:
Dividend=Divisor×Quotient+Remainder\text{Dividend}=\text{Divisor}\times \text{Quotient}+\text{Remainder}Dividend=Divisor×Quotient+Remainder.

Example: if the divisor is 5, the quotient is 4, and the remainder is 2, then
Dividend=5×4+2=22\text{Dividend}=5\times 4+2=22Dividend=5×4+2=22.

Quick real-life picture

If you have 20 apples and want to share them equally among 5 friends, the 20 apples are the dividend , 5 is the divisor, and the answer (4 apples each) is the quotient.

TL;DR: A dividend in math is just the starting number you are splitting up in a division problem.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.