How to Do Long Division Step by Step

Long division is one of those skills that looks complicated at first but follows a simple, repeating pattern. Once you learn the four-step cycle — Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring down — you can divide any number, no matter how large. Let's break it down.

The DMSB process

Every long division problem uses the same four steps, repeated until you run out of digits:

1. D — Divide: How many times does the divisor go into the current number?
2. M — Multiply: Multiply the divisor by the digit you just wrote.
3. S — Subtract: Subtract the product from the current number.
4. B — Bring down: Bring down the next digit from the dividend and repeat.

Some students remember this with the phrase "Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?" — whatever helps it stick.

Setting up the problem

In a long division problem like 96 ÷ 4, the parts have names:

• Dividend: the number being divided (96)
• Divisor: the number you're dividing by (4)
• Quotient: the answer you're building on top

Write the divisor to the left, the dividend under the division bracket, and build the quotient above the bracket one digit at a time.

Example 1: 96 ÷ 4 (no remainder)

This is a clean division to start with.

Answer: 24

Example 2: 157 ÷ 6 (with remainder)

Not every division comes out even. Here's how to handle leftovers.

Answer: 26 remainder 1 (or 26 R 1)

You can verify: 26 × 6 + 1 = 156 + 1 = 157. ✓

Example 3: 4521 ÷ 13 (two-digit divisor)

When the divisor has two digits, the process is the same — you just work with larger chunks.

Answer: 347 remainder 10

Check: 347 × 13 + 10 = 4,511 + 10 = 4,521. ✓

Example 4: 75 ÷ 4 (continuing into decimals)

Instead of writing a remainder, you can keep dividing by adding a decimal point and zeros.

Answer: 18.75

Example 5: 238 ÷ 7

Answer: 34

Common mistakes

Forgetting to bring down: After subtracting, you must bring down the next digit before dividing again. Skipping this step gives a quotient that's too small.

Wrong multiplication: The most error-prone step is multiplying the divisor by the quotient digit. Double-check your multiplication facts — one wrong product throws off every step after it.

Placing digits in the wrong column: Each quotient digit must line up above the corresponding digit of the dividend. If digits drift out of alignment, the final answer will have the wrong number of digits.

Guessing too high: If your subtraction step gives a negative number, your quotient digit was too large. Reduce it by one and try again.

Quick tips

• Always estimate first — round the divisor and dividend to get a ballpark answer.
• Verify your answer by multiplying the quotient by the divisor (and adding any remainder). You should get the original dividend.
• Keep your columns neat. Graph paper or lined paper turned sideways helps.
• If you get a remainder and need a decimal, place a decimal point and add zeros to continue.

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