Long division · Year 6

In Year 6 you learn: dividing up to 4-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers; remainders as fractions or decimals.

Long division is a written method for dividing by a two-digit number. It works one digit at a time like short division, but writes out each multiplication and subtraction so the remainders are easy to track. Writing a list of multiples first makes it much easier.

Key facts

• Write some multiples of the divisor first (1×, 2×, 5×, 10× …).
• Each step: divide, multiply, subtract, bring down the next digit.
• A remainder must always be smaller than the number you divide by.
• Remainder as a fraction: put it over the divisor (437 ÷ 12 = 36 5/12).
• Remainder as a decimal: carry on dividing past the decimal point with zeros.
• In context, decide whether to round up, round down or give an exact answer.

Worked examples

Other years

• Long division · Year 5
• Long division · Year 7