Divide is used to split something up into smaller pieces: "I divided the cake into 6 pieces" "Please divide the children into 2 groups" ----------- Seperate means - to take something away from the other or to split things up. "My parents got a divorce, they are now seperated" "I seperated the onions from the rest of the vegetables"

In many cases they would mean the same but you would use them in different expressions: -- you separate two arguing children -- you divide a cake amongst the guests One way to look at the two terms is the 'parts' are whole parts in themselves, such as two children, you separate them. If it is a single whole, such as a cake, you divide. This help?