Long Division Calculator
Type a whole-number dividend and divisor and press Divide. The calculator shows the quotient, the remainder and the decimal result to 6 places. Below them it lists each step: it brings down one digit of the dividend at a time and shows how many times the divisor goes into the number so far. Numbers of any length divide exactly. A decimal or a negative number gets a message instead of a result.
How to use the Long Division Calculator
- Enter your numbers in the Long Division Calculator above.
- Press the Divide button to see the result.
- To try other numbers, change any value and press the button again.
The long division algorithm
Dividend ÷ Divisor = Quotient remainder Remainder · · · Dividend = Divisor × Quotient + Remainder
Bring down the next digit of the dividend, work out how many times the divisor fits into the number so far, subtract, and repeat until no digits are left. What is left over is the remainder. Each line of the calculator's steps is one round of this.
Worked example
847 ÷ 23. The calculator lists three steps: 8 ÷ 23 = 0 remainder 8, then 84 ÷ 23 = 3 remainder 15 (3 × 23 = 69), then 157 ÷ 23 = 6 remainder 19 (6 × 23 = 138) after bringing down the 7. So 847 = 23 × 36 + 19, a quotient of 36 and a remainder of 19. The decimal result is 36.826087.
Frequently asked questions
Why teach long division if we have calculators?
Long division builds understanding of place value, estimation and division as the inverse of multiplication. It's foundational for understanding polynomial long division and other algorithms.
When do I use remainder vs. decimal?
Remainder form is more useful for problems where you can't split things (e.g., dividing students into groups). Decimal form is more useful for measurement and most calculations.
How do I divide decimals?
Move the decimal point in both numbers the same number of places until both are whole, then divide as usual. This calculator takes whole numbers only, so type the shifted numbers: 1.25 ÷ 0.5 becomes 125 ÷ 50, which gives 2 remainder 25 and the decimal 2.500000.