How_To_Be_Good_At_Math

146 CALCULATING •^ LONG DIVISION

Long division

In expanded long division (see pages 144-45), we divide by subtracting

multiples of the divisor in chunks. Long division is a different method, in which

we divide each digit of the number we’re dividing (the dividend) in turn.

To see how long division works,

we’ll divide 4728 by 34.

We start by writing the number we

want to divide, which is 4728. Then

we draw a division bracket around it. We

put the divisor, 34, outside the bracket,

immediately to the left of 4728.

Now we try to divide the first digit of

the dividend by 34. 34 won’t go into 4,

so we look to the next digit and divide 47

by 34. The answer is 1. Write 1 above the

bracket, over the 7. Write 34 beneath 47.

Subtract 34 from 47 to find the remainder,

which is 13. Write this in at the bottom.

We now bring down the next digit

in the dividend to sit next to the 13

we just wrote down, to change the

number 13 into 132.

4728 ÷ 34 =?

You may find it

useful to label the

columns to show

the place values

When bringing

down the next

digit, keep it in

its place-value

column

−

−

34

34

34

H

H

H

Long division calculations follow

this pattern: divide, subtract,

carry down.

T

T

T

O

O

O

Th

Th

Th

7

7

7

4

4

4

2

2

2

8

8

8

4

4

3

3

3

3

1

1

2

1

1

Draw a line and

write the total of

the subtraction

beneath it

Write down

how many 34s

go into 47 here

146_147_Long_Division.indd 146 29/02/2016 18:57