How to Do Long Division

How to Do Long Division: A Step-by-Step Guide

Long division is a fundamental math skill that is essential for solving more complex mathematical problems. While it may seem intimidating at first, with some practice and patience, anyone can learn to do long division. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to do long division.

Step 1: Set Up the Problem

The first step in doing long division is to set up the problem. The problem will be written in the following format:

Dividend ÷ Divisor = Quotient + Remainder

For example, let’s say we want to divide 134 by 7. The problem would look like this:

134 ÷ 7 = Quotient + Remainder

We will fill in the quotient and remainder as we work through the problem.

Step 2: Divide the First Digit

The next step is to divide the first digit of the dividend by the divisor. In our example, the first digit of the dividend is 1. We want to know how many times 7 goes into 1, which is 0. Write this above the 4 in the dividend.

0 7)134

Step 3: Multiply

The next step is to multiply the divisor by the quotient digit we just found. In this case, we multiply 7 by 0, which gives us 0.

0 7)134

Step 4: Subtract

The next step is to subtract the result of the multiplication from the digit we used to divide in the first place. In this case, we subtract 0 from 1, which gives us 1. Write this below the 4 in the dividend.

0 7)134

1

Step 5: Bring Down the Next Digit

The next step is to bring down the next digit of the dividend. In our example, the next digit is 3. Write this next to the 1 we just wrote.

0 7)134

13

Step 6: Divide and Repeat

We now repeat the process of dividing, multiplying, subtracting, and bringing down until we have no more digits to bring down. The process should look like this:

0 7)134

19 –> 2 times 7 is 14; 19 – 14 = 5

5 7)54

7 –> 1 time 7 is 7; 7 – 7 = 0

Step 7: Write the Quotient and Remainder

Once we have completed the previous steps, we have found the quotient and remainder. In our example, the quotient is 19 and the remainder is 5. We can write the final answer as:

134 ÷ 7 = 19 remainder 5

Congratulations! You now know how to do long division.

Additional Tips:

• If the number being divided is not evenly divisible by the divisor, the process will continue until the remainder is less than the divisor.
• It is important to keep track of the digits in the correct places as you work through the problem.
• Practice makes perfect! The more you do long division, the easier it will become.

If you want to learn more about math, including how to do long division with decimals or larger numbers, check out howitsdone.net for additional tutorials and resources.