the divisor) and then ask, how many do we need to make 10? The answer is 2, so we write 2 in a circle
below the 8. We add the 2 to the tens digit of the number we are dividing (5 is the tens digit of 56) and
get an answer of 7. Write 7 below the 6 in 56. Draw a circle below our answer (7). Again, how many
more do we need to make 10? The answer is 3, so write 3 in the circle below the 7. Now multiply the
numbers in the circles.
2 × 3 = 6
Subtract 6 from the units digit of 56 to get the remainder.
6 − 6 = 0
There is 0 remainder. The answer is 7 with 0 remainder.
Here is another example: 75 ÷ 9.Nine is 1 below 10, so we write 1 in the circle below the 9. Add the 1 to the tens digit (7) to get an
answer of 8. Write 8 as the answer below the 5. Draw a circle below the 8. How many more to make
10? The answer is 2. Write 2 in the circle below the 8. Multiply the numbers in the circles, 1 × 2, to get
- Take 2 from the units digit (5) to get the remainder, 3. The answer is 8 r3.
Here is another example that will explain what we do when the result is too high.
Eight is 2 below 10, so we write 2 in the circle. Two plus 5 equals 7. We write 7 above the units digit.
We now draw another circle above the 7. How many to make 10? The answer is 3, so we write 3 in the
circle. To get the remainder, we multiply the two numbers in the circles and take the answer from the
units digit. Our work should look like this:
We find, though, that we can’t take 6 from the units digit, 2. Our answer is too high. To rectify this,
we drop the answer by 1 to 6, and write a small 1 in front of the units digit, 2, making it 12. Six is 4
below 10, so we write 4 in the circle.
We multiply the two circled numbers, 2 × 4 = 8. We take 8 from the units digit, now 12; 12 − 8 = 4.
Four is the remainder.
The answer is 6 r4.