Dividing multi digit numbers

Here you will learn how to divide multi digit numbers with strategies, such as the relationship between addition and subtraction, the properties of operations and also how to use the standard algorithm of long division.

Students will first learn about dividing multi digit numbers in 4 th and 5 th grade and how to use the standard algorithm to divide in 6 th grade.

What is dividing multi digit numbers?

Dividing multi digit numbers is dividing large numbers into equal groups.

When first working with multi-digit division, the focus is on using strategies including place value understanding, properties of operations and the relationship between multiplication and division.

For example,

600 \div 15= \; ?

• I know that 15 \times 10=150, so I can see how many 150 s are in 550.
  
  \begin{aligned}& 600-150=450, \\\\ & 450-150=300, \\\\ & 300-150=150, \\\\ & 150-150=0\end{aligned}
  
  There are 4 groups of 15 \times 10 in 600, so there are 40 groups of 15 in 600.

• I know that 600 \div 15=(300+300) \div 15.
  
  Since 30 \div 15=2, then 300 \div 15=20. This means…
  
  \begin{aligned}& (300+300) \div 15 \\\\ & =300 \div 15+300 \div 15 \\\\ & =20+20 \\\\ & =40\end{aligned}

• I can use an area model and what I know about multiplication to solve.
  
  
  
  I know that 5 times something is half of 10 times something, so the box for 5 needs to be half the box for 10 – with the sum being 600.
  
  
  
  Now I know that 40 \times 10=400 and 40 \times 5=200, so the missing value is 40.
  
  

Notice there are many ways to solve the same problem – using partial products and partial quotients, using the distributive property over division and using the area model to work backwards from multiplication.

Knowing the names of each strategy is not important, but understanding why they work and making connections between them is.

After students have had sufficient practice understanding division with multi-digit whole numbers in 4 th and 5 th grade, the standard algorithm is taught in 6 th grade.

For example,

600 \div 15= \; ?

Set up the equation to solve with the algorithm.

The steps of the algorithm are: divide, multiply, subtract then bring down.

Start with the first digit in the dividend, which is the number with the largest place value. How many wholes are in 6 \div 15?

Since there are no wholes, move to include the next digit. How many wholes are in 60 \div 15?

60 \div 15=4. Record the 4 above the 60, in the tens position. Now multiply 4 \times 15 and record the product below.

This shows that in 4 groups of 15, there are 60. Now subtract.

This shows how many are left over – in this case none. Since 4 groups of 15 are 60, there was exactly enough. Now bring down the next digit in the dividend.

How many wholes are in 0 \div 15? There are 0. Record the 0 above.

Multiplying 0 \times 15=0, and subtraction shows that there is nothing left over.

Note: This page does not cover division with decimals. However, students use strategies in fifth grade to divide decimals up to hundredths and use the standard algorithm in 6 th grade to divide all decimals.

See also: Multiplying and dividing decimals

What is dividing multi digit numbers?

Common Core State Standards

How does this apply to 4 th grade math, 5 th grade math and 6 th grade math?

• Grade 4: Numbers and Operations in Base 10 (4.NBT.B.6)
  Find whole-number quotients and remainders with up to four-digit dividends and one-digit divisors, using strategies based on place value, the properties of operations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.

• Grade 5: Numbers and Operations in Base 10 (5.NBT.B.6)
  Find whole-number quotients of whole numbers with up to four-digit dividends and two-digit divisors, using strategies based on place value, the properties of operations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.

• Grade 6: Number System (6.NS.B.2)
  Fluently divide multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm.

How to divide multi digit numbers with strategies

In order to divide multi digit numbers with strategies:

1. Write the division equation.
2. Choose a solving strategy.
3. Solve the equation.

Dividing multi digit numbers examples

Example 1: dividing a four-digit number by 1 digit divisor

Solve 9,245 \div 8.

1. Write the division equation.

The equation is 9,245 \div 8= \; ?

2Choose a solving strategy.

Since division and multiplication are related, you can use what you know about multiplication to solve.

3Solve the equation.

Example 2: dividing a four-digit number by 2 digit divisor

A box fits 20 crayons. There are 4,740 crayons. How many boxes can be filled with crayons?

Example 3: dividing a four-digit number by 2 digit divisor

Solve 6,300 \div 25.

How to divide multi digit numbers with long division

In order to divide multi digit numbers with long division:

1. Write the division equation in long division form.
2. Divide part of the dividend (going from largest place value to smallest).
3. Multiply the partial quotient and divisor.
4. Subtract the product from the dividend.
5. Bring down the next largest place value and begin again at Step 2.

Example 4: dividing a two-digit number by 1 digit divisor

Solve 96 \div 4 with the standard algorithm.

Write the division equation in long division form.

Divide part of the dividend (going from largest place value to smallest).

How many wholes are in 9 \div 4?

2 \times 4=8, there are 2 whole groups of 4.

Multiply the partial quotient and divisor.

This shows that in 2 groups of 4, there are 8.

Subtract the product from the dividend.

This shows there is 1 left over.

Bring down the next largest place value and begin again at Step 2.

Divide part of the dividend (going from largest place value to smallest).

How many wholes are in 16 \div 4?

4 \times 4=16, there are 4 whole groups of 16.

Multiply the partial quotient and divisor.

This shows that in 4 groups of 4, there are 16.

Subtract the product from the dividend.

This shows there are 0 left over.

Bring down the next largest place value and begin again at Step 2.

There is nothing left to bring down and there is no remainder.

96 \div 4=24

Example 5: dividing a three-digit number by 1 digit divisor with remainder

Solve 197 \div 7 with the standard algorithm.

Write the division equation in long division form.

Divide part of the dividend (going from largest place value to smallest).

How many wholes are in 1 \div 7?

None, so we move to the next place value.

How many wholes are in 19 \div 7?

2 \times 7=14, there are 2 whole groups of 7.

Multiply the partial quotient and divisor.

This shows that in 2 groups of 7, there are 14.

Subtract the product from the dividend.

This shows there are 5 left over.

Bring down the next largest place value and begin again at Step 2.

Divide part of the dividend (going from largest place value to smallest).

How many wholes are in 57 \div 7?

8 \times 7=56, there are 8 whole groups of 7.

Multiply the partial quotient and divisor.

This shows that in 8 groups of 7, there are 56.

Subtract the product from the dividend.

This shows there is 1 left over.

Bring down the next largest place value and begin again at Step 2.

There are no more digits to bring down. There are a few options for recording an answer:

• Record it as a remainder: 197 \div 7=28 \mathrm{~R} \, 1
• Record it as a fraction: 197 \div 7=28 \cfrac{1}{7}
  In this case the numerator is the remainder and the denominator is the divisor.
• Record it as a decimal: 97 \div 7=28.142 \ldots
  This requires you to keep following the steps, by bringing down 0 s from the decimal place values positions.
  
  See also: Dividing decimals

Example 6: dividing a four-digit number by 2 digit divisor

Solve 8,118 \div 18 with the standard algorithm.

Write the division equation in long division form.

Divide part of the dividend (going from largest place value to smallest).

How many wholes are in 8 \div 18?

None, so we move to the next place value.

How many wholes are in 81 \div 18?

4 \times 18=72, there are 4 whole groups of 18.

Multiply the partial quotient and divisor.

This shows that in 4 groups of 18, there are 72.

Subtract the product from the dividend.

This shows there are 9 left over.

Bring down the next largest place value and begin again at Step 2.

Divide part of the dividend (going from largest place value to smallest).

How many wholes are in 91 \div 18?

5 \times 18=90, there are 5 whole groups of 18.

Multiply the partial quotient and divisor.

This shows that in 5 groups of 18, there are 90.

Subtract the product from the dividend.

This shows there is 1 left over.

Bring down the next largest place value and begin again at Step 2.

Divide part of the dividend (going from largest place value to smallest).

How many wholes are in 18 \div 18?

1 \times 18=18, there is 1 whole group of 18.

Multiply the partial quotient and divisor.

This shows that in 1 group of 18, there are 18.

Subtract the product from the dividend.

This shows there is 0 left over.

Bring down the next largest place value and begin again at Step 2.

There is nothing left to bring down and there is no remainder.

8,118 \div 18=451

Teaching tips for dividing multi digit numbers

• While worksheets can be useful for this skill, make sure to expose students to all types of division problems. This includes, but is not limited to number problems, word problems, projects, real world scenarios, calculator activities, etc. It is important that students see division problems in many different contexts and solved in many different ways.

• Since solving long division problems involves using a multi-step algorithm, be sure that students have access to a tutorial, notes or webpage (like this one) so they can see the order of the steps and how to use them. This will increase their chances of understanding and memorizing the algorithm.

Easy mistakes to make

• Incorrectly adding partial quotients
  When learning to divide large numbers, many students use the partial quotient method. For this method to be successful, students need to keep track of all the partial quotients and add them together at the end. If a student’s work is messy or incomplete, it can lead to mistakes.

• Thinking the first number goes on out the outside when using long division
  When performing the standard algorithm for division, the divisor appears first from left to right, then the dividend. This is backwards from how a division expression is written, which can be confusing in the beginning.
  For example,
  4,571 \div 11 is written as

• Thinking that division is always a larger number divided by a small number
  Up until 5 th grade, most (if not all) of students’ experience with division is a larger number divided by a smaller number. However, it is important to not make this claim and correct students if they make it.
  
  Something as simple as “All the numbers we are working with are larger numbers divided by smaller numbers, but that doesn’t mean that is the only way to divide.”
  
  You may even engage students in a short activity (or “brain teaser”) about 1 \div 2, by asking them “If you had 1 piece of gum and divided it by 2, what size would each piece be?”
  
  Since dividing 1 item into 2 parts is a common real world occurrence, most elementary students can make sense of this.
  
  While they are not expected to formally operate like this in elementary school, sprinkling a few of these experiences throughout the year can go a long way in preventing students from forming this misconception.

Related multiplication and division lessons

• Multiplication and division
• Multiplication
• Multiplicative comparison
• Multiplying multi digit numbers
• Division
• Multiplying and dividing integers
• Multiplying and dividing rational numbers
• Long division
• Negative numbers
• Negative times negative

The next lessons are

• Types of numbers
• Rounding numbers
• Factors and multiples

Still stuck?

At Third Space Learning, we specialize in helping teachers and school leaders to provide personalized math support for more of their students through high-quality, online one-on-one math tutoring delivered by subject experts.

Each week, our tutors support thousands of students who are at risk of not meeting their grade-level expectations, and help accelerate their progress and boost their confidence.

Find out how we can help your students achieve success with our math tutoring programs.