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Glite Dictionary
short division

short division

1 5.5
A quick way to divide numbers in your head with little writing
  • noun
  • /ʃɔrt dɪˈvɪʒən/
  • UK
translation icon : división corta
  • I learned to do short division in school.

Examples

  • Unlike long division, short division keeps your calculations neat and saves time.

  • If you can do the multiplication tables quickly, short division makes dividing numbers much faster.

  • We learned short division in primary school before moving on to more complicated strategies.

  • Can you explain how to use short division?

  • In mathematics class, we learned that short division can simplify calculations for small numbers.

  • Using short division, she quickly divided 48 by 6 without writing anything down.

  • The teacher explained that short division helps us solve problems faster by reducing steps.

Antonyms

long division
5 2.5

A way to divide one number by another by writing each step

How Compact

short division
  • UK
1 5.5

Surface Forms

short division singular
short divisions plural

Morphology

short + division

The phrase is a simple adjective+noun composition: 'short' (brief/abbreviated) modifying 'division' (the math operation), so its meaning as an abbreviated or minimal-writing method of dividing follows directly from the constituents. This is a transparent, compositional naming pattern (a 'short' version of a procedure) that a B1 learner who knows both words would reasonably infer.

Etymology

Short division is named for its small amount of writing: unlike long division, you write only a few numbers and do most steps in your head. So short means 'with little writing', and that's why the term now describes a quick, neat way to divide numbers.