Long Division: The Steps That Make It Click

Long division is one of those skills that looks intimidating but follows a simple, repeatable pattern. Once your child learns the four steps — divide, multiply, subtract, bring down — they can tackle any division problem.

The challenge isn't that long division is conceptually difficult. It's that it requires multiple skills working together: division facts, multiplication, subtraction, and careful organization on paper.

The Four Steps (DMSB)

Some teachers use the memory aid "Does McDonald's Sell Burgers" for the four steps:

D - Divide: Look at the divisor and the first digit(s) of the dividend. How many times does the divisor go in?

M - Multiply: Multiply the divisor by the number you just wrote on top.

S - Subtract: Subtract the product from the digits above it.

B - Bring down: Bring down the next digit and repeat.

A Worked Example

Let's solve 156 ÷ 4.

Step 1 - Divide: Does 4 go into 1? No. Does 4 go into 15? Yes, 3 times. Write 3 above the 5.

Step 2 - Multiply: 3 × 4 = 12. Write 12 below the 15.

Step 3 - Subtract: 15 - 12 = 3. Write 3.

Step 4 - Bring down: Bring down the 6. Now you have 36.

Repeat: Does 4 go into 36? Yes, 9 times. 9 × 4 = 36. 36 - 36 = 0.

Answer: 39

Before Teaching Long Division

Make sure your child can:

Recall multiplication facts quickly. If they have to count on fingers to find 7 × 8, long division will be agonizingly slow.
Subtract multi-digit numbers. The subtract step requires accurate subtraction.
Understand what division means. They should know that 156 ÷ 4 means "splitting 156 into 4 equal groups."

If any of these foundations are shaky, shore them up first. Long division with weak multiplication facts is like building on sand.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Forgetting to bring down. Fix: Have them draw arrows from each digit down to where it gets brought, before they start calculating.

Wrong multiplication facts. Fix: Practice multiplication facts separately until they're automatic. You can't fix long division if the real problem is 7 × 8.

Subtraction errors. Fix: Check each subtraction by adding back up. If 15 - 12 = 3, then 3 + 12 should equal 15.

Placing digits in the wrong spot. Fix: Use graph paper to keep digits aligned, or draw vertical lines between place values.

Dealing with Remainders

When the final subtraction doesn't give zero, you have a remainder. 157 ÷ 4 = 39 remainder 1, written as 39 R1.

For older students, remainders become decimals: add a decimal point and zeros to the dividend, then continue dividing. 157 ÷ 4 = 39.25.

Practice Makes Automatic

Like any multi-step procedure, long division gets easier with practice. Start with single-digit divisors and small dividends, then gradually increase complexity:

Two-digit ÷ one-digit (no remainder): 84 ÷ 4
Two-digit ÷ one-digit (with remainder): 85 ÷ 4
Three-digit ÷ one-digit: 156 ÷ 4
Larger dividends: 1,248 ÷ 6

Try It Free — No Login Needed

Build division fluency with our free practice tools:

Grade 4 Division — Basic long division
Grade 5 Division — Multi-digit division

Or download printable long division worksheets (PDF) to practice the DMSB steps on paper — often the best way to build the "careful organization" long division requires.

No account needed. Instant feedback helps your child catch mistakes right away.

What Is Long Division? Step-by-Step for Grade 4 and 5 Students