Division is a core life skill. Calculating the fraction someone is owed or should receive — for instance when splitting a check or dividing the costs of a trip — is a mathematical challenge you are likely to encounter on an almost daily basis.

Long division sounds scary, but it’s not. This instructable will teach you how to find the answer to a division problem, also known as the quotient. It will also teach you how to solve division problems that have remainders. You won’t need a calculator, and you will be able to show your work. You’ll not only be able to complete any worksheet for school, you’ll always be prepared and confident when you have to split a check three ways.

Step 1: Things You'll Need

There are three different "methods" that I will be teaching you. To learn all of the methods you will need a pencil and lots of paper. You may also want to have a calculator to double-check your answers.

Step 2: Simple Division

The first method is simple division. Your answer will come out as a whole number.

1) Setup the division problem (84/7).
2) Divide 8 by 7 to get 1. Place this on top of the 8 and the division sign.
3) Multiply 1 and 7 to get 7. Place this under the 8.
4) Subtract 7 from 8 to get 1.
5) Carry down the 4.
6) Divide 14 by 7 to get 2. Place this on top of the 4 and the division sign.
7) Multiply 2 by 7 to get 14.
8) Subtract 14 from 14 to get 0.

The answer is 12!

Step 3: Simple Division With Remainder

This is the same as simple division except we add in the remainder.

1) Setup the division problem (10/3).
2) Divide 10 and 3 to get 3. Place this on top the 0 and the division sign.
3) Multiply 3 by 3 to get 9. Place this under the 10.
4) Subtract 9 from 10 to get 1. That is the remainder.

The answer is 3 r 1!

Step 4: Long Division With Decimal

This is similar to dividing with a remainder except you go a step further and have a decimal.

1) Setup the division problem (127/4).
2) Divide 12 and 4 to get 3. Put this on top of the 12 and the division sign.
3) Multiply 3 and 4 to get 12. Place this under the 12.
4) Subtract 12 and 12 to get 0.
5) Carry down the 7.
6) Divide 7 and 4 to get 1. Put this on top of the 7 and the division sign.
7) Multiply 4 and 1 to get 4. Place this under the 7.
8) Subtract 7 and 4 to get 3.
9) Add a 0 and a decimal point. Carry down as before. Dividing to a decimal, you can add as many zeroes as the problem requires.
10) Divide 30 and 4 to get 7.
11) Multiply 4 and 7 to get 28. Place this under the 30.
12) Subtract 30 and 28 to 2.
13) Add another 0 and a decimal point. Carry down as before.
14) Divide 20 by 4 to get 5.
15) Multiply 4 and 5 to get 20. The remainder is 0, therefore you have completed the division problem.

The answer is 31.75!

Step 5: Divide With More Than One Digit

Last method! Dividing when the divisor is more than one digit, like 63.

1) Setup the division problem (2856/84).
2) Divide 285 by 84 to get 3. Place this on top of the 5 and the division sign.
3) Multiply the 3 and 84 to get 252. Place this under the 285.
4) Subtract 285 and 252 to get 33.
5) Carry down the 6.
6) Divide 336 by 84 to get 4. Place this on top of the 6 and the division sign.
7) Multiply 4 and 84 to get 336.
8) Subtract 336 and 336 to get 0.

The answer is 34!

Step 6: Conclusion

Now you know how to divide!

Remember that you can't divide by zero.

Thanks for reading!

Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or anything.