HoffyEd ← Whole Number Operations

Long Division

Every long division problem is the same four steps, over and over. Learn the steps, then use them on bigger and bigger numbers. All your work happens right here on the screen, so you don't need paper or a pencil.

New to this? Start below. Ready to go? Jump to the Step Coach or practice.

1

Why It Works

Dividing means sharing into equal groups. We share the biggest blocks first. When there aren't enough to go around, we trade what's left for ten of the next smaller block. Watch how each move shows up in the bracket.

Fair Share
Still to share
hundredstensones
2

The Step Coach

The four steps repeat until there is nothing left to bring down. A silly sentence can help you remember the order: Dogs Make Silly Barks.

D
Divide. How many times does the divisor fit? Write that digit in the answer, on top of the bracket.
M
Multiply. Answer digit times divisor. Write the product underneath.
S
Subtract. What's left must be smaller than the divisor. If it isn't, your answer digit was too small.
B
Bring Down. Bring down the next digit and go back to Divide.
dividemultiplysubtractbring down
Or try your own: ÷
3

What About the Leftovers?

Sometimes the steps run out and something is still left. The division is right. You just have choices about how to finish. Here is one problem, written different ways.

Tap a card to see that answer.
Which one should you use? It depends on what you're dividing. People or buses can't be split, so a remainder tells you how many are left. A shared pizza can be split, so a fraction works well. Money and measurements usually call for a decimal.
4

Spot the Mistake

Calc-U-Bot is learning long division, and it makes the same mistakes people do. Check its work. Which step went wrong, or did it get everything right?

Round 1 of 6Score: 0
5

Let's Practice

Division Decisions

Long division is full of small choices. Pick the best one.

Question 1 of 10Score: 0

Solve It Yourself

No coaching this time. Pick a level, tap a box, and type every number in your work: answer digits, products, differences, and digits you bring down. Then press Check.

Problem 1 of 6Score: 0
Nice work! Now you can divide numbers of almost any size and finish the answer the way a problem needs. Head back to Whole Number Operations to keep going.