Division

Division

Division is taking a large number and separating it into smaller equal groups.

Since division is the reverse (or inverse) of multiplication you can attack the problem in pieces.

Start at the beginning digits of the number to be divided (48 of the 480). Divide by the number on the bottom (32), the divisor. Subtract the part you have divided up (subtract 1 * 32 from 48). You have 16 left over. Use the next digit (0) to make the next number to be divided (160). Repeat (divide 160 by 32). Subtract (5*32) from 160. Use the next digit, until you run out of digits to divide.

In this problem, it would be like dividing a big group of hundreds of people (480) into groups of 32 then seeing how many tens of people you can divide into groups of 32, then seeing how many people are left until you have a small group of people remaining (less than 32) or it works out evenly.

Check out this explanation at Ducksters.com

Learn more and get a helpful calculator at Calculator Soup.

Long Division Strategy

Write the problem, guess how many times the divisor goes into the first (two) digits of the dividend (number to be divided). Multiply the guess by the divisor and subtract it. Bring the next (third) digit of the dividend down as the next digit of the subtracted number. Repeat guessing, multiplication and subtraction process. Bring down the next digit, if any. Repeat again until all the digits have been used. Any number remaining after the last subtraction is the remainder.