long division

[victoriamoz]

How do I do long division?

[lisaj]

ok. this is not difficult, however writing it down in this text box so that the concepts are legible is... why not just use a calculator?

[sft42]

Okay here goes to use an example divide 9723 by 3. you go from right to left so 3/3=1 next the 2 wont divide evenly so take 1 from the 7 leaving 6 and add it too the 2 making 12 and then divide by 3=40 then 6/3=200 and 9/3=3000 add these together to give 3241. it's easier than it sounds

[tomr]

As lisaj says, difficult to write down but not difficult to do. I think that sft42 got that back to front. The written format is to have the number to be divided (divident) written under a line upon which the answer is written. The divisor is written in front of the dividend. I start on the left, so using the previous example, 9/3 = 3 write the 3 above the 9, the move on to the 7. 7/3 = 2 rem 1. 2 goes above the 7 and 1 is written below the 7, bring the next digit (2) down to sit after the rem 1 making '12' 12/3 = 4 and finally 3/3 = 1. Same answer. If you choose 9737 to divide by 3 the first two steps are the same but you will be left with 13 instead of 12. Continuing, 13/3 = 4 rem 1 write the 4 above the 3 and bring down the 7 to make 17. 17/3 = 5 rem 2. Write the 5 above the 7, put in a decimal point and bring down a '0' (not included in the original number but is there nonetheless) you now have 20/3 which is 6 rem 2 and will reoccur. Your answer will be 3245.6666.......