Division as Repeated Subtraction Worksheet Grade 1

Introduction to division concepts through repeated subtraction method with visual exercises and simple examples for grade 1 students.

Division as Repeated Subtraction: Exercises 1-3
1 Sharing Cookies
Exercise 1
Tom has 6 cookies. He wants to give 2 cookies to each friend. How many friends can get cookies?
What is Division?

Division: Sharing things equally into groups. We find how many groups we can make.

Method: Repeated Subtraction
  1. Start with the total number (6 cookies)
  2. Give 2 cookies to one friend (subtract 2)
  3. Keep giving 2 cookies to each new friend (subtract 2 again)
  4. Count how many friends got cookies
6
-
2
=
4
Friend 1
4
-
2
=
2
Friend 2
2
-
2
=
0
Friend 3
Step 1: Start with total cookies

Tom starts with 6 cookies

Step 2: Give cookies to first friend

Give 2 cookies to Friend 1: 6 - 2 = 4 cookies left

Step 3: Give cookies to second friend

Give 2 cookies to Friend 2: 4 - 2 = 2 cookies left

Step 4: Give cookies to third friend

Give 2 cookies to Friend 3: 2 - 2 = 0 cookies left

6 ÷ 2 = 3 friends
Final answer:

Tom can give cookies to 3 friends because he subtracted 2 three times from 6 to get 0

2 Balloons for Friends
Exercise 2
Sarah has 8 balloons. She wants to give 2 balloons to each friend. How many friends can get balloons?
Key Words:

Divide: Share equally into groups

Groups: Equal parts of the total

Share: Give the same amount to everyone

8
-
2
=
6
Friend 1
6
-
2
=
4
Friend 2
4
-
2
=
2
Friend 3
2
-
2
=
0
Friend 4
Step 1: Count total balloons

Sarah has 8 balloons to share

Step 2: Give balloons to friends

Give 2 balloons to each friend: 8 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 0

Step 3: Count the friends

She gave balloons to 4 friends

8 ÷ 2 = 4 friends
Final answer:

Sarah can give balloons to 4 friends because she subtracted 2 four times from 8 to get 0

3 Pencils for Students
Exercise 3
The teacher has 9 pencils. She wants to give 3 pencils to each student. How many students can get pencils?
Important:

Equal Groups: Each group must have the same number of items.

9
-
3
=
6
Student 1
6
-
3
=
3
Student 2
3
-
3
=
0
Student 3
Step 1: See total pencils

There are 9 pencils to share

Step 2: Give pencils to students

Give 3 pencils to each student: 9 - 3 - 3 - 3 = 0

Step 3: Count students

3 students got pencils

9 ÷ 3 = 3 students
Final answer:

The teacher can give pencils to 3 students because she subtracted 3 three times from 9 to get 0

Complete Summary: Division as Repeated Subtraction
Key Concepts:

Division: Sharing things equally into groups. It tells us how many equal groups we can make.

Repeated Subtraction: Taking away the same number over and over until we reach zero.

Dividend: The number we start with (the total).

Divisor: The number we subtract each time (how many in each group).

Quotient: The answer (how many groups we made).

Step-by-Step Method:
  1. Look at the problem: Example: 8 ÷ 2
  2. Start with the dividend: Begin with 8
  3. Subtract the divisor: Take away 2 each time
  4. Count how many times: How many times did you subtract?
  5. Write the answer: The count is your answer
Tip 1: Always subtract the same number (the divisor).
Tip 2: Count each subtraction to find the answer.
Tip 3: Stop when you reach zero.
Simple Examples:

4 ÷ 2 = ?
4 - 2 = 2 (1st subtraction)
2 - 2 = 0 (2nd subtraction)
Answer: 2

6 ÷ 3 = ?
6 - 3 = 3 (1st subtraction)
3 - 3 = 0 (2nd subtraction)
Answer: 2

10 ÷ 5 = ?
10 - 5 = 5 (1st subtraction)
5 - 5 = 0 (2nd subtraction)
Answer: 2

Memory Tip: Think "How many groups of [divisor] can I make from [dividend]?"
Connection: Division is the opposite of multiplication.
Division Concepts and Methods
Total ÷ Amount per Group = Number of Groups
Division Formula
Division
6 ÷ 2 = 3
6-2-2-2=0 (3 times)
Check
3 × 2 = 6
Multiplication check
Words
6 shared into groups of 2
Makes 3 groups
Key Definitions:

Dividend: The number we start with (total items)

Divisor: The number we divide by (items per group)

Quotient: The answer (number of groups)

Equal Groups: Each group has the same number of items

Division Steps:
  1. Read the problem: Understand what you're sharing
  2. Start with total: Write down the dividend
  3. Subtract repeatedly: Take away the divisor each time
  4. Count subtractions: Keep track of how many times
  5. Write answer: The count is your quotient
Tip 1: Use objects like counters to physically take away.
Tip 2: Draw circles to represent groups.
Tip 3: Always check: quotient × divisor = dividend.
Division Meaning: How many equal groups can we make?
Visual Help: Draw pictures to understand the process.
More Practice and Questions
4 Apples for Bags
Exercise 4
Mom has 10 apples. She puts 2 apples in each bag. How many bags does she fill?
10
-
2
=
8
Bag 1
8
-
2
=
6
Bag 2
6
-
2
=
4
Bag 3
4
-
2
=
2
Bag 4
2
-
2
=
0
Bag 5
10 ÷ 2 = 5 bags
5 Crayons for Boxes
Exercise 5
There are 12 crayons. Put 3 crayons in each box. How many boxes do we need?
Step 1: Start with total

12 crayons to put in boxes

Step 2: Put crayons in boxes

12 - 3 = 9 (Box 1)
9 - 3 = 6 (Box 2)
6 - 3 = 3 (Box 3)
3 - 3 = 0 (Box 4)

12 ÷ 3 = 4 boxes

Questions & Answers

Question: Why do we keep taking away the same number? I don't get it.

Answer: Great question! Think of it like sharing cookies:

If you have 6 cookies and want to give 2 to each friend, you need to see how many friends can get 2 cookies each.

So you give 2 cookies to Friend 1 (6 - 2 = 4), then 2 to Friend 2 (4 - 2 = 2), then 2 to Friend 3 (2 - 2 = 0).

You gave 2 cookies each time because that's how much each friend gets. You did this 3 times, so 3 friends got cookies!

Question: Is this really division? It looks like subtraction to me.

Answer: Yes, this is absolutely division! Division and subtraction are connected:

• Division asks: "How many equal groups can I make?"

• Repeated subtraction answers this by showing how many times we can take away equal amounts

• For example: 8 ÷ 2 asks "How many groups of 2 are in 8?"

• Repeated subtraction: 8 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 0 shows we took 2 away 4 times, so there are 4 groups

This helps children understand what division MEANS before memorizing facts!

Question: What if I can't subtract evenly? Like 7 ÷ 2?

Answer: Good thinking! With 7 ÷ 2:

7 - 2 = 5 (1st group)
5 - 2 = 3 (2nd group)
3 - 2 = 1 (3rd group)

Now we have 1 left, but we can't take away 2 from 1.

So: 7 ÷ 2 = 3 with 1 left over (remainder).

For now, we focus on problems that divide evenly, like 6 ÷ 2 = 3.