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Short Division

Short Division

Division splits one number into a number of smaller, equal parts.  The number carrying out the dividing is called the divisor. Short Division is the division of one number by a single digit.

Place the number to be divided under a bus stop, with the divisor to the left of the vertical line. The answer will be written above the horizontal line.

Division takes place one digit at a time, working from left to right. The number of complete times that the divisor divides into each number is written above the digit, and the remainder carried forward (as a multiple of 10) to the next number.

At the end of a division, there may be a remainder:

• the remainder may be shown as an integer;

• the remainder may be shown as a fraction (remainder/divisor);

• continue the division by adding places (zeroes) after the decimal point for a decimal answer.

Example 1

A company is sending holiday brochures to its six travel shops.  If 1350 brochures are equally distributed to each shop, how many brochures will each shop receive?

This is a division: divide 1350 by 6.

6 into 1: 0, remainder 1 (changes the next number from 3 to 13);

6 into 13: 2 (place above the 3), remainder 1 (the next number becomes 15);

6 into 15: 2 (place above the 5), remainder 3 (the next number becomes 30);

6 into 30: 5 (place above the 0), no remainder.

0 2 2 5
6 1 1 3 1 5 3 0

Answer: 225

Example 2

Divide 243 by 7. Show the result of the division a) as a remainder; b) as a fraction, and c) as a decimal to 1 decimal place.

Show the calculation with a remainder:

a) As a remainder: 243 ÷ 7

b) As a fraction, show the remainder over the divisor (`frac(5)(7)`) to give an answer of 34`frac(5)(7)`.

c) Add a decimal point and create decimal places using zeroes. The number of decimal places must be one more than the accuracy required. Check also for rounding. Divide 243.00 by 7.

0 3 4 rem 5
7 2 2 4 3 3

0 3 4 . 7 1
7 2 2 4 3 3 . 5 0 1 0

Answer: a) 34 remainder 5; b) 34`frac(5)(7)` ; c) 34.7

See also Multiplying and Dividing Negative Numbers and Dividing Decimals