reduction

Everyday

1. A reduction is making something smaller or less, or the amount by which it is made smaller. tree →
2. A reduction in a shop is a lower price; a discount. tree →
3. In maths, reduction can mean making a shape or picture smaller by a scale factor, or simplifying a fraction. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: price reductions and percentages ("a 20% reduction"), scale drawings. In science and everyday life: reduction of waste, noise or speed. Phrases: price reduction, a reduction of, a reduction in, reduce, reuse, recycle.

Examples

• There is a 10% reduction on all toys. tree →
• The reduction in speed made the road safer. tree →
• A reduction of 5 dollars makes the book cost 15 dollars. tree →
• We want a reduction in plastic waste. tree →
• The photo is a reduction of the real painting. tree →
• The new rule led to a big reduction in litter. tree →
• Find the price after a reduction of a quarter. tree →
• Writing 4/8 as 1/2 is a reduction to simplest form. tree →

Note

Verb: reduce. Countable. "Reduction in" (what got smaller); "reduction of" (by how much). Maths: new amount = old amount - reduction. A 25% reduction on 40 is 10, so the new price is 30. Trap: the reduction is the amount taken off, not the new price.

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah it means bringing the idea of a letter down into its written form.

Interpretation. In Sefer Yetzirah a thing's thought, speech and writing form a unity that has creative power.

Examples

• and its reduction to writing, form a unity which produce a creative effect. 1 (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Verb: reduce. Countable. "Reduction in" (what got smaller); "reduction of" (by how much). Maths: new amount = old amount - reduction. A 25% reduction on 40 is 10, so the new price is 30. Trap: the reduction is the amount taken off, not the new price.