Division as repeated subtraction Notes, Quizzes & Revision
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Mathematics โ Division
Subtopic: Division as repeated subtraction (for age 8)
Division is about sharing into equal groups. One easy way to understand division is to see it as repeated subtraction โ keep taking away the same number until nothing (or less than that number) is left.
Example 1 โ No remainder
Question: 8 รท 2. Think: How many groups of 2 can we take from 8?
Items: ๐ฅญ ๐ฅญ ๐ฅญ ๐ฅญ ๐ฅญ ๐ฅญ ๐ฅญ ๐ฅญ
Subtract 2 again and again:
- 8 โ 2 = 6 (1 group)
- 6 โ 2 = 4 (2 groups)
- 4 โ 2 = 2 (3 groups)
- 2 โ 2 = 0 (4 groups)
Answer: 8 รท 2 = 4
Number line jumps of 2:
0
2
4
6
8
โ
โ
โ
โ
Example 2 โ With a remainder
Question: 10 รท 3. How many groups of 3 can we make from 10?
Items: ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
- 10 โ 3 = 7 (1 group)
- 7 โ 3 = 4 (2 groups)
- 4 โ 3 = 1 (3 groups)
We cannot take away another 3 because only 1 is left.
Answer: 10 รท 3 = 3 remainder 1
How to do repeated subtraction โ steps
- Start with the total number (the dividend).
- Keep subtracting the divisor (the number you are dividing by).
- Each subtraction makes one group โ count how many times you subtract.
- If you reach zero, there is no remainder. If a small number less than the divisor is left, that is the remainder.
Important words: dividend = total; divisor = size of each group; quotient = number of groups; remainder = what is left.
Practice โ try these
- 12 รท 4 = ?
- 15 รท 5 = ?
- 14 รท 3 = ?
- 9 รท 2 = ?
- 7 รท 3 = ?
(Try using repeated subtraction on paper, or use small stones, maize kernels or sweets to make groups.)
Answers
1) 12 รท 4 = 3
2) 15 รท 5 = 3
3) 14 รท 3 = 4 remainder 2
4) 9 รท 2 = 4 remainder 1
5) 7 รท 3 = 2 remainder 1
2) 15 รท 5 = 3
3) 14 รท 3 = 4 remainder 2
4) 9 รท 2 = 4 remainder 1
5) 7 รท 3 = 2 remainder 1