How_To_Be_Good_At_Math

142 CALCULATING •^ SHORT DIVISION

Short division

Short division is another method for working out division

calculations on paper when the divisor is a single-digit number.

Compared with expanded short division (see pages 140-41), you

have to do more calculation in your head and less writing down.

Write out the calculation

like this.

Let’s divide 156 by 7 using

short division.

Now we’re going to divide

each of the digits in the

dividend, 156, by 7. We’ll start

with the first digit, which is 1.

Since 1 can’t be divided by 7, we

write nothing over the 1 above the

division bracket. We carry over this 1

into the tens column. This carried over

1 stands for 1 hundred, which is the

same as 10 tens.

156 ÷ 7 =?

(^7156)
Begin by
dividing the
first digit
of 156 by 7
Use place value
columns if it
helps you
H T O
(^7156)
H T O
(^7156)
H T O
Carry the
1 hundred over
to the tens
column
Remember, the number
being divided is the
dividend, and the number it
is divided by is the divisor.
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