Many children find the traditional long division method far to complex to understand. Below are two different ways for you to help your children understand long division. The first method uses repeated subtraction and the second is a grid method.

Understanding long division as repeated subtraction.

Question: 765÷12

12x10=120
  765-120=645
12x10-120
  645-120=525
12x10=120
  525-120=405
12x10=120
  305-120=285
12x10-120
  185-120=165
12x10=120
  165-120=45

You now know that 12x60=720

765-720=45

How many 12’s in 45?

12x3=36 remainder 9

60+3=36 remainder 9

Answer: 765÷12=63 r9

Grid method for division which can be used if you know you tables well.

Question: 765÷12

Start by partitioning 765 as in the grid below:

÷ 700 60 5 12

First box needs 700÷12, this is quite had to work out so lets make it easier:

720÷12=60 (because 72÷12=6)

The second box needs 40÷12=3 remainder 4:

The remainder(4) is added to the last box - see grid below:

Now all you need to do is add.

60+3+0=63 r9

Answer: 765÷12=63 r9

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