Examples of Long Division

Now, let’s divide … using the long division method. Here’s the first example. 876 divided by 4. We start by drawing a horizontal line. The four which we divide by, the divisor, is written below the line, to the left.

And the number to be divided, the dividend, is written to the right below the line. Start by calculating with the leftmost digit in the dividend. There, we find an eight. 4 goes into 8 two times. Write a two in the answer above the line, the quotient.

4 times 2 is 8. Write this right below the eight in the dividend. Subtract the eight you just wrote from the eight in the dividend. 8 minus 8 is 0. Now, bring the seven down next to the zero.

4 goes into 7 one time. Write a 1 after the two in the quotient, above the line. 4 times 1 is 4. Write this below the seven you brought down from the dividend a moment ago. And now, subtract: 7 minus 4.

That’s 3, so we have a remainder of 3. We bring the next digit in the dividend, the six, down. 3 and 6 together form the number 36, so 36 will be divided by 4 next. And how many times does 4 go into 36? Nine times.

Write a 9 after the one in the quotient. 4 times 9 is 36. Write a 36 at the bottom of the calculation. 36 minus 36 is 0. Now, we are out of digits in the dividend.

We are done with the calculations. 876 divided by 4 is 219. One last example! 832 divided by 4. Pause the film and try for yourself first.

If you used long division, perhaps you proceeded like this: First a horizontal line. Dividend and divisor below the line, the divisor to the left, and the dividend to the right. 4 goes into 8 two times. Write a two in the quotient. 4 times 2 is 8.

Write an eight below the 8 in the dividend. And 8 minus 8 is 0. Bring the three from the dividend down, next to the zero. 4 goes into 3 zero times. Write a zero after the two in the quotient.

4 times 0 is 0. Write a zero below the three. 3 minus 0 is 3. Bring the two from the dividend down. 3 and 2 form 32.

4 goes into 32 8 times. Write an eight after the zero in the quotient. 4 times 8 is 32. And 32 minus 32 is 0. We’re done.

The quotient is 208.