Divide using repeated subtraction 

Divide using repeated subtraction is what this lesson will teach you. We will show you how to do some divisions with some really good examples. 

Interesting examples showing how to divide using repeated subtraction

Example #1

Divide 28 by 5

                   ____  
Write    5   ) 28

Step 1

What you need to do here is to subtract the divisor until the remainder is less than the divisor or 5. Record a 1 each time you subtract. In our example, the divisor is 5, so you will subtract 5. Note that the 1 shown in red keeps tract of the number of times you need to subtract 5.

                 ____  
            5   ) 28
                    -5                  1
              ________
                    23               
                    -5                  1        
             _________
                   18  
                    -5                  1
            __________
                   13  
                    -5                  1
            __________
                     8        
                    -5                  1
            __________
                     3

Since 3 is smaller than 5, then we can stop subtracting.

Step 2

Count the number of times you subtracted the divisor or 5. Above you can see that there are 5 ones.

Therefore, 5 is subtracted 5 times and the number that is left is 3.

Therefore, 28 ÷ 5 = 5 r3

The meaning of 5 r3 is a quotient of 5 with remainder of 3.

Example #2

Divide 380 by 62

                     ______   
Write    62   ) 380

Step 1

Subtract the divisor until the remainder is less than the divisor or 62. Record a 1 each time you subtract. In our example, the divisor is 62, so you need to subtract 62. Notice again that the 1 keeps tract of the number of times you subtract 62.

                  ______  
           62   ) 380
                    -62                  1
              ________
                    318               
                    -62                  1         
             _________
                   256  
                    -62                  1
            __________
                   194  
                    -62                  1
            __________
                   132        
                    -62                  1
            __________
                     70
                    -62                  1
            _________
                      8

8 is smaller than 62, so we stop subtracting.

Step 2

Count the number of times you subtracted the divisor or 62. Above you can see that there are 6 ones.

Therefore, 62 is subtracted 6 times with 8 left.

Therefore, 380 ÷ 62 = 6 r8

Again, the meaning of 6 r8 is a quotient of 6 with remainder of 3.

Did you have a hard time understanding the examples above? Did you not get it at all? Do you need to understand it a little deeper? Then, take a look at this figure below and study it carefully!