Long Division

Use long division to divide larger numbers

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Long Division

The Steps: Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring Down

Remember the order: DMSB — Dad, Mom, Sister, Brother!

Example: 84÷484 \div 4

84÷4=2184 \div 4 = 21

Steps:

  1. Divide: How many times does 4 go into 8? → 8÷4=28 \div 4 = 2
  2. Multiply: 2×4=82 \times 4 = 8
  3. Subtract: 88=08 - 8 = 0
  4. Bring down the 4
  5. Repeat: 4÷4=14 \div 4 = 1

Final answer: 84÷4=2184 \div 4 = 21

Check your work: Multiply your answer by the divisor: 21×4=8421 \times 4 = 84

Remainders

Sometimes there's a number left over — that's the remainder.

Example: 17÷317 \div 3

| Step | Calculation | |------|------------| | How many 3s fit in 17? | 3×5=153 \times 5 = 15 (fits!) | | What's left over? | 1715=217 - 15 = 2 | | Answer | 17÷3=517 \div 3 = 5 R 22 |

This means: 3 goes into 17 five times with 2 left over.

Larger Numbers

Example: 156÷6156 \div 6

  1. 15÷6=215 \div 6 = 2 (remainder 33)
  2. Bring down the 663636
  3. 36÷6=636 \div 6 = 6 (no remainder)
  4. Answer: 156÷6=26156 \div 6 = 26

Check: 26×6=15626 \times 6 = 156

Checking Your Answer

You can always verify your division:

Quotient×Divisor+Remainder=Dividend\text{Quotient} \times \text{Divisor} + \text{Remainder} = \text{Dividend}

  • 84÷4=2184 \div 4 = 21 → Check: 21×4=8421 \times 4 = 84
  • 17÷3=517 \div 3 = 5 R 22 → Check: 5×3+2=175 \times 3 + 2 = 17

Tips to Remember

  • Follow the steps in order: Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring Down
  • Estimate first: Think about what the answer should be close to
  • Always check by multiplying back
  • Watch for remainders — they must be smaller than the divisor

📚 Practice Problems

1Problem 1easy

Question:

Calculate: 63÷363 \div 3

💡 Show Solution

Solution:

&\phantom{00}21 \\ 3 &\overline{)63} \\ &\underline{-6\phantom{0}} \\ &\phantom{0}03 \\ &\phantom{0}\underline{-3} \\ &\phantom{00}0 \end{align}$$ **Answer:** 21

2Problem 2medium

Question:

There are 96 students going on a field trip. If each bus holds 8 students, how many buses are needed?

💡 Show Solution

Solution:

Divide: 96÷896 \div 8

&\phantom{00}12 \\ 8 &\overline{)96} \\ &\underline{-8\phantom{0}} \\ &\phantom{0}16 \\ &\phantom{0}\underline{-16} \\ &\phantom{00}0 \end{align}$$ **Answer:** 12 buses

3Problem 3hard

Question:

Calculate: 127÷5127 \div 5

💡 Show Solution

Solution:

&\phantom{000}25 \text{ R } 2 \\ 5 &\overline{)127} \\ &\underline{-10\phantom{00}} \\ &\phantom{0}27 \\ &\phantom{0}\underline{-25} \\ &\phantom{00}2 \end{align}$$ **Answer:** 25 R 2 (or 25 remainder 2)