Short division
Small numbers can be divided using knowledge of times tables. Larger numbers can be divided using short division.
Short division is a written method that uses mental arithmetic to divide a number in stages. It is ideal when the The number by which another number is divided. For 3 梅 9, the divisor is 9. is less than 10.
Question
Using short division, divide 895 by 5.
\(895 \div 5\) means 'how many times will 5 divide into 895?'. The 5 is called the divisor.
Divide each digit by 5. Start with the hundreds:
\(8 \div 5 = 1\)
Calculate the remainder:
\(5 \times 1 = 5\), \(8 - 5 = 3\)
So the remainder is 3. Carry three hundred into the tens column:
\(39 \div 5 = 7\)
Calculate the remainder:
\(5 \times 7 = 35\), \(39 - 35 = 4\)
So the remainder is 4. Carry four tens into the ones column:
\(45 \div 5 = 9\)
Therefore, \(895 \div 5 = 179\). The solution of the division is called the quotient.
Sometimes, a digit in a particular place value column may not be divisible by the divisor.
Question
What is \(129 \div 3\)?
\(1 \div 3\) is not possible, so carry one hundred into the tens column.
\(12 \div 3 = 4\), with no remainder.
\(9 \div 3 = 3\)
\(129 \div 3 = 43\)