ffirs.indd

Simple Division 135
1 8 9.2 6
3 5262 7.8^200
Th ree divides into 20 six times (6 × 3 = 18), with 2 remainder. Th e
remainder is carried to the next digit, making 20 again. Because we
will keep ending up with 2 remainder, you can see that this will go
on forever. Th ree divides into 20 six times with 2 remainder, and
this will continue infi nitely.
1 8 9.2 6 6
3 5262 7.8^2020
Because we are calculating to two decimal places, we have to decide
whether to round off upward or downward. If the next digit after
our required number of decimal places is 5 or above, we round off
upward; if the next digit is below 5, we round down. Th e third
digit is 6, so we round the second digit off to 7. Our answer is
189.27.
Simple division using circles
Just as our method with circles can be used to multiply numbers
easily, it can also be used in reverse for division. Th e method works
best for division by 7, 8 and 9. I think it is easier to use the short
division method we have just looked at, but you can try using the
circles if you are still not sure of your tables.
Let’s try a simple example, 56 ÷ 8:
3
7
8 56
2