Add is to multiply as subtract is to which arithmetic operation in this analogy.

Introduction / Context:
This analogy tests understanding of the relationship between basic arithmetic operations. The pair Add : multiply suggests a link between a simple operation and a more complex operation built from repeated use of the simpler one. The question asks for a similar relationship involving subtract. These types of questions check conceptual understanding rather than mechanical computation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• First pair: Add : multiply.
• Second pair: Subtract : ?
• Options: fraction, divide, decimal, None of the above.
• We assume basic school level arithmetic definitions.

Concept / Approach:
In arithmetic, multiplication can be thought of as repeated addition. For example, 4 multiplied by 3 equals 4 plus 4 plus 4. So the relationship is “complex operation that is repeated application of a simpler one.” To maintain the same pattern, we look at subtract. Division can be interpreted as repeated subtraction: 12 divided by 3 means subtracting 3 from 12 again and again until zero is reached. Therefore, divide stands to subtract as multiply stands to add.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Express multiplication as repeated addition, for example 5 multiplied by 4 is 5 + 5 + 5 + 5. Step 2: Recognise that the relationship Add : multiply is “base operation is used repeatedly to perform the more advanced operation.” Step 3: Consider subtraction and ask which operation can be seen as repeated subtraction. Step 4: For example, 15 divided by 3 can be computed by subtracting 3 from 15 until we reach zero: 15, 12, 9, 6, 3, 0, which shows five steps, so the quotient is five. Step 5: Therefore, division is built from repeated subtraction in the same way that multiplication is built from repeated addition, so Divide is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can rewrite the analogy in full sentences. Adding repeatedly gives multiplication. Similarly, subtracting repeatedly gives division. This phrasing clearly shows that both pairs share the same structural idea. Fraction and decimal are not operations but types of numbers or representations, so they cannot serve as parallel to multiply, which is a process. The option None of the above is not needed because we have found a strong logical match in divide.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Fraction: This refers to a number expressed as one integer over another, not an arithmetic operation constructed from subtraction.
• Decimal: A way of writing numbers using a decimal point, again not an operation.
• None of the above: Incorrect because divide clearly fits the intended relationship.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may think only in terms of opposite operations and assume that the analogy should match addition with subtraction and multiplication with division. However, the given pair does not show opposites; it shows a repeated process. Recognising that analogies can express many different relationships, such as opposition, cause, or repetition, is crucial for solving them correctly. Always identify what the specific first relationship is before looking at the options.

Final Answer:
The correct completion is Subtract : divide, so the analogy reads Add : multiply :: Subtract : divide.