Meaning & use
repeated subtraction
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablemathematics
A way to divide by taking away the same number again and again until nothing or less than that number is left.
Grammar: Uncountable: use repeated subtraction, not a repeated subtraction.
Patterns
- repeated subtraction of something
- use repeated subtraction
- by repeated subtraction
We can solve 12 ÷ 3 by repeated subtraction: 12 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 = 0, so the answer is 4.
Repeated subtraction helps students see that division is about how many times one number fits into another.
The teacher explained that repeated subtraction is a stepping stone to learning long division.
Common combinations
- method of repeated subtraction
- The method of repeated subtraction is often taught before the standard division algorithm.
- by repeated subtraction
- You can find the quotient by repeated subtraction.
- use repeated subtraction
- First, use repeated subtraction to understand the concept.
- repeated subtraction of the divisor
- Repeated subtraction of the divisor from the dividend gives the quotient.
Synonyms and how they differ
- division by repeated subtraction
- A longer phrase that means the same thing; repeated subtraction is the shorter, more common term.
Commonly confused: repeated subtraction or repeated addition?
repeated subtraction vs repeated addition
Repeated addition is a way to multiply by adding the same number over and over; repeated subtraction is for division.
Practice
Which expression shows repeated subtraction for 15 ÷ 5?
Choose one answer.
Repeated subtraction means subtracting the divisor (5) from the dividend (15) until you reach zero. Option 0 does this and shows that 5 fits into 15 three times. The others show addition, multiplication, or the final division itself.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “repeated subtraction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.