Is there a shorter term for "divided by" in American English?
Given the following expression:
5 (+-×÷%) 4
You would say "5 plus 4," "5 minus 4," "5 times 4," "5 divided by 4," and "5 mod(ulo) 4" respectively.
As far as I know, "divided by" does not have any shorthand form in the same way the above examples do.
Solution 1:
Perhaps alternatives suffice to the extent that no great pressure exists to shorten "divided by"?
"5 over 4"?
"five fourths"?
Solution 2:
What about "per"? While not usually used in the same context as plus, minus, etc., it does mean "divided by".
Solution 3:
Invert the question/problem
4 into 5 goes 1.2 was the way I was brought up...
Solution 4:
I would use "5 by 4" in a generic setting like @Jasper mentioned. @Stan's point is valid, however in a matrix setting we're usually specific, like "A five by four matrix". From what I've seen/heard/experienced, "5 times 4" is the colloquial norm for multiplication and "5 by 4" is the colloquial norm for division.