Short division

For grown-ups: this lesson in words

Years 4 to 6 · Maths

Short division: I can divide big numbers with short division and say what the remainder means.

1. Here are 12 cupcakes. Dividing means sharing equally.

   Share them onto 3 plates, one at a time.

   Each plate gets 4.

   12 ÷ 3 = 4

   Picture: 12 cupcakes. They are shared equally onto three plates, 4 on each plate. 4 each.

2. For bigger numbers we use short division, or the bus stop method. 3 sits outside the bus stop and 96 sits inside.

   Start on the left. 9 tens ÷ 3 = 3 tens. Write 3 above the 9.

   Now the ones. 6 ÷ 3 = 2. Write 2 above the 6. So 96 ÷ 3 = 32.

   Picture: 96 divided by 3 worked out as a short division: the answer is 32.

3. Your turn: 84 ÷ 4. Divide the tens first, then the ones. What is the answer?

   Picture: 84 divided by 4 set out as a short division, with an empty answer space.

   Type a number.

   Answer

   The answer: 21

   21. 8 ÷ 4 = 2, write 2 above the 8. 4 ÷ 4 = 1, write 1 above the 4.

   Picture: 84 divided by 4 worked out as a short division: the answer is 21.

Words to know

divide:

Share or group a number equally.

bus stop method:

The short division layout: the number we divide by sits outside, the big number inside.

carry:

Move the tens left over from one digit to the next digit on the right.

remainder:

What is left over when a number does not divide exactly.