How to Do Long Division Step by Step

Long division is the standard method for dividing multi-digit numbers by hand. It breaks a hard division problem into a series of smaller steps: divide, multiply, subtract, and bring down.

Example: 154 ÷ 7

1. Divide: 7 goes into 15 two times. Write 2 above the 5.
2. Multiply: 2 × 7 = 14. Write 14 below the 15.
3. Subtract: 15 − 14 = 1.
4. Bring down: Bring down the 4 to make 14.
5. Repeat: 7 goes into 14 exactly 2 times. Write 2 next to the first 2.

Answer: 154 ÷ 7 = 22, with no remainder.

Checking your answer: multiply the quotient by the divisor (22 × 7 = 154). If it matches the dividend, the division is correct.

For longer numbers or to verify homework, a long division calculator shows every step of the working, which makes it easier to spot where a mistake happened.