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One way of dividing is to think of it as repeated subtraction.
For example, look at the question 20 ÷ 5
Subtract 5 20 - 5 = 15
Subtract 5 again 15 - 5 = 10
Subtract 5 again 10 - 5 = 5
Subtract 5 again 5 - 5 = 0
Count the total number of times you subtracted 5. In this question it was 4 times. As the final number after all the subtractions is 0, the 5 divides into 20 exactly with no remainder.
20 ÷ 5 = 4
Here's another example, 25 ÷ 6
Subtract 6 25 - 6 = 19
Subtract 6 again 19 - 6 = 13
Subtract 6 again 13 - 6 = 7
Subtract 6 again 7 - 6 = 1
You can't subtract another 6 as there is only 1 left, which is less than the divisor 6. This is the remainder. 6 was subtracted 4 times, but you have a remainder, 1.
25 ÷ 6 = 4 remainder 1
Using multiples with repeated subtraction
You can also combine this method with using multiples, such as multiples of 10, as a shortcut.
For example, 400 ÷ 8
As 400 is divisible exactly by 10 you can subtract 80 instead of 8.
Subtract 80 (i.e. 10 x 8) 400 - 80 = 320
Subtract 80 (i.e. 10 x 8) 320 - 80 = 240
Subtract 80 (i.e. 10 x 8) 240 - 80 = 160
Subtract 80 (i.e. 10 x 8) 160 - 80 = 80
Subtract 80 (i.e. 10 x 8) 80 - 80 = 80
Add the total number of 8s subtracted which is 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 to get the answer 50 with no remainder.
400 ÷ 8 = 50
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