divisible by three

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "divisible by three" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in mathematical contexts to describe a number that can be divided by three without leaving a remainder. Example: "The number 9 is divisible by three, as it can be divided evenly into three parts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

You could apply to the effects team, say, but only if the number of doctorates you hold is divisible by three.

The New Yorker

For him, as for many others, the trinity had religious and thus cosmic significance, and his works and published sets are often neatly divisible by three.

The New York Times - Arts

When he said that we could film only when the temperature was divisible by three, I remember picking him up and throwing him into a lake.

The New Yorker

One thousand and eleven, divisible by three, was a fittingly round number shape, and I thought it the most beautiful thing I had yet read: half number and half word.

The Guardian - Books

All known computations of for -manifolds give values that are divisible by three.

Duke University

While Popper is often credited as being the pioneer of propensity interpretations, we already find the key idea in the writings of Peirce (1910, 79-80): "I am, then, to define the meaning of the statement that the probability, that if a die be thrown from a dice box it will turn up a number divisible by three, is one-third.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Most people know that years divisible by four are leap years, but there are exceptions.

The New York Times - Tech

One is that every fifth number, and only every fifth number, is divisible by five.

The New Yorker

Pick any year divisible by four, and chances are there will be unfathomable oddities.

The New Yorker

There were seven of us on the table, the only group not divisible by two.

The Guardian - Opinion

oddp returns true if integer is odd (not divisible by two); otherwise, returns false.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, when referring to lengths of genetic sequences, specify if the length is "divisible by three" to indicate whether it maintains the reading frame.

Common error

Avoid using "divisible by three" interchangeably with terms like "multiple of three" or "factor of three" without understanding their precise mathematical meanings. While related, they describe different aspects of the number's properties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "divisible by three" functions primarily as an adjective phrase used to describe a number or quantity that can be divided by three without leaving a remainder. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable nature in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "divisible by three" is a common and correct way to describe a number that can be divided by three without a remainder. Ludwig confirms its usability and appropriateness in written English. Predominantly used in science, news, and mathematical contexts, this adjective phrase indicates a specific numerical property and finds application in statistical analysis and scientific writing. Alternatives include "multiple of three" or "can be divided evenly by three". While grammatically sound, writers should avoid confusing it with other mathematical properties. Understanding these nuances ensures precision in both technical and general usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Multiple of three

Replaces "divisible by" with "multiple of" maintaining the mathematical meaning.

Exactly divisible by three

Emphasizes that division results in a whole number.

Wholly divisible by three

Similar to 'exactly divisible' emphasizing a whole number result.

Can be divided evenly by three

Explains the divisibility by stating the ability to divide without a remainder.

Perfectly divisible by three

Indicates that the division results in a whole number without decimals.

Three is a factor of

Uses the concept of factors to express divisibility.

Three is an exact divisor of

Alternative phrasing using the mathematical term 'divisor'.

Division by three yields an integer

Focuses on the type of number you get after the division (integer).

Three goes into (number) without remainder

More conversational way of saying it can be divided without any remainder.

A third of the number is a whole number

Phrases it in terms of 'a third of the number'.

FAQs

How do I use "divisible by three" in a sentence?

You can use "divisible by three" to describe a number that can be divided by three without leaving a remainder. For example, "The number 9 is "divisible by three", as it can be divided evenly into three parts."

What's an easy way to check if a number is divisible by three?

A simple trick is to add all the digits of the number. If the sum of the digits is "divisible by three", then the original number is also divisible by three. For example, for 123, 1+2+3=6, and 6 is divisible by 3, so 123 is divisible by 3.

What are some alternatives to saying "divisible by three"?

You can use alternatives like "a "multiple of three"", "can be divided evenly by three", or "three is a factor of" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "divisible by three" and "a multiple of three"?

While closely related, "divisible by three" describes the property of a number, while "a multiple of three" describes the number itself. For example, 9 is "divisible by three", and 9 is "a multiple of three".