Dividing Whole Numbers with Long Division
Long division, which is used to divide numbers of more than one digit, is really just a
series of simple division, multiplication, and subtraction problems. The number that you
divide is called the dividend. The number you divide the dividend by is the divisor. The
answer to a division problem is called a quotient.
SAMPLE PROBLEM: Divide 564 by 12, or
| Step 1: Because you cannot divide 12 into 5,
you must start by dividing 12 into 56. To do
this, ask yourself, “What number multiplied by
12 comes closest to 56 without going over?â€
4 × 12 = 48, so place a 4 in the quotient.
 |
Step 2: Multiply the 4 by the divisor
and place the product under the 56.
Then subtract that product from 56.
 |
| Step 3: Bring the next digit down from
the dividend (4), and divide this new
number (84) by the divisor, as you did
in Step 1. Because 12 divides into 84
seven times, write 7 in the quotient. |
 |
The quotient is 47.
|
