See exactly how long division works, digit by digit
Long division is the written method for dividing a large number (the dividend) by another number (the divisor) to find the quotient. Unlike short division, long division writes out every subtraction step explicitly, which makes it much easier to follow — especially when dealing with larger divisors or dividends with many digits.
You work through the dividend from left to right, one digit at a time. At each step you ask: how many times does the divisor fit into the current portion of the dividend? You write that number above the line (that digit of the quotient), multiply it back by the divisor, subtract, and bring down the next digit. You repeat until you have processed every digit.
When the dividend is not perfectly divisible by the divisor, there is a leftover amount after all digits have been processed. This is called the remainder. For example, 17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2. Remainders are always smaller than the divisor — if they aren't, it means you could have written a larger digit in the quotient at that step.
Before starting long division, make sure you are confident with your times tables — you'll be using them constantly to estimate each quotient digit. Work neatly and keep each column well aligned. If you get a remainder at the end that is equal to or larger than the divisor, check back through your steps.
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