Long division: how to do it, examples and worksheet
Long division is a written method for dividing a large number by a number with two or more digits (or by a single digit when you want to show every step). It breaks one hard division into a series of small ones.
Ages
9+ (rough guide)
Level
Intermediate
Subject
Maths
Time
20–30 minutes
Format
Online + printable
Stage
UK Year 6 (introduced Year 5–6) · roughly US Grade 5–6
Times tables up to 12 × 12, subtraction with borrowing, and understanding place value (hundreds, tens, ones). Short division (the ‘bus stop’ method) is a good first step.
Learn it
How it works
Remember four repeating steps: Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring down. A memory aid is ‘Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?’
Divide: look at the first digit (or first two digits) of the number being divided. How many times does the divisor fit? Write that above the line.
Multiply: multiply your answer digit by the divisor and write the result underneath.
Subtract: take it away to find what is left. The remainder must always be smaller than the divisor — if it is not, your answer digit was too small.
Bring down: bring down the next digit and repeat. When there are no digits left, what remains is the remainder (or add a decimal point and zeros to continue).
Tip: before starting, write the first few multiples of the divisor down the side. For ÷ 15, write 15, 30, 45, 60… It makes every ‘divide’ step quick.
Worked example 1
672 ÷ 16
16 does not go into 6, so look at 67. 16 × 4 = 64, so write 4 above the 7.
67 − 64 = 3. Bring down the 2 to make 32.
16 goes into 32 exactly 2 times. Write 2 above the 2.
32 − 32 = 0. No digits left and no remainder.
Answer: 42
Worked example 2
1,850 ÷ 12
12 into 18 goes 1 time. 18 − 12 = 6. Bring down 5 → 65.
12 into 65 goes 5 times (60). 65 − 60 = 5. Bring down 0 → 50.
12 into 50 goes 4 times (48). 50 − 48 = 2.
No digits left, so the remainder is 2. As a fraction: 2/12 = 1/6.
Answer: 154 remainder 2 (or 154 1/6, or 154.17 to 2 d.p.)
Try it online · print it · check it
Practice questions
Intermediate · ages 9+
Long division
NameDate
Use long division. Write remainders as r, for example 23 r4.
1.384 ÷ 12
2.735 ÷ 15
3.918 ÷ 17
4.1,248 ÷ 24
5.500 ÷ 13
6.2,745 ÷ 21
7.4,536 ÷ 36
8.A school splits 868 pencils into boxes of 28. How many boxes?
Intermediate · answersAnswer key
Long division — answer key
Use long division. Write remainders as r, for example 23 r4.
1.384 ÷ 1232
2.735 ÷ 1549
3.918 ÷ 1754
4.1,248 ÷ 2452
5.500 ÷ 1338 r6
6.2,745 ÷ 21130 r15
7.4,536 ÷ 36126
8.A school splits 868 pencils into boxes of 28. How many boxes?31
Tips
Common mistakes
Forgetting a zero in the answer when the divisor does not fit (e.g. 2,745 ÷ 21 = 130 r15, not 13 r15).
A remainder bigger than the divisor — go back and increase the answer digit.
Lining digits up in the wrong column. Squared paper keeps columns straight.
Not checking: multiply your answer by the divisor and add the remainder. You should get the starting number.
