Long division, step by step
Long division walks a child through divide, multiply, subtract, bring down — one place at a time.
The question
837 ÷ 3
279 3837 6232127270
- 837 shared into groups of 3. Long division starts at the LEFT — the other way round from adding.
- Start at the left. How many 3s fit into 8? 2 of them — write the 2 on top. 2 × 3 = 6, and 8 − 6 leaves 2. Bring down the 3, which makes 23.
- How many 3s fit into 23? 7 — write it on top. 7 × 3 = 21, and 23 − 21 leaves 2. Bring down the 7, which makes 27.
- How many 3s fit into 27? 9 — write it on top. 9 × 3 = 27, and 27 − 27 leaves 0.
- Nothing is left to bring down and nothing is left over. 837 ÷ 3 = 279.
How it works.
- 01
837 shared into groups of 3. Long division starts at the LEFT — the other way round from adding.
- 02
Start at the left. How many 3s fit into 8? 2 of them — write the 2 on top. 2 × 3 = 6, and 8 − 6 leaves 2. Bring down the 3, which makes 23.
- 03
How many 3s fit into 23? 7 — write it on top. 7 × 3 = 21, and 23 − 21 leaves 2. Bring down the 7, which makes 27.
- 04
How many 3s fit into 27? 9 — write it on top. 9 × 3 = 27, and 27 − 27 leaves 0.
- 05
Nothing is left to bring down and nothing is left over. 837 ÷ 3 = 279.