Short division

Hello, and welcome to Myriora Maths! What is four hundred and seventy-two divided by four? It's too big for your times tables. But there's a neat way to write it, called the bus stop. Let's learn it!

Draw the bus stop like this. The number you're dividing goes inside, under the roof. The number you divide by waits outside, at the stop. The answer goes on top of the roof. We work from left to right, one digit at a time.

Start with the hundreds. How many fours in four? One, with nothing left over. Write the one on the roof, above the four.

Next, the tens. How many fours in seven? One, remainder three. Write the one on the roof. Now, the three left over can't just disappear. Carry it to the next digit, and write it small, in front of the two. That makes thirty-two.

Now the ones. How many fours in thirty-two? Eight, with nothing left over. Write the eight on the roof. So four hundred and seventy-two divided by four is a hundred and eighteen!

Why does the three turn the two into thirty-two? The three left over is three tens. Three tens are thirty ones. Add them to the two ones, and you get thirty-two ones to share.

Always check by multiplying back. A hundred and eighteen times four is four hundred and seventy-two. It matches, so the answer is right!

Let's try one together. What is ninety-six divided by three? Nine divided by three first, then six divided by three. Say it out loud!

Nine divided by three is three. Six divided by three is two. So ninety-six divided by three is thirty-two!

Here's a question that catches lots of people. What is six hundred and twelve divided by six? Six divided by six is one. Then one divided by six: zero, remainder one. Some people forget to write the zero, and get twelve. But that zero holds the tens place! Twelve divided by six is two, so the answer is a hundred and two.

Your turn! What is nine hundred and forty-five divided by five? Use the bus stop. Pick the right card. You've got twenty seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! Nine divided by five is one, remainder four. Carry the four: forty-four divided by five is eight, remainder four. Carry the four again: forty-five divided by five is nine. The answer is a hundred and eighty-nine!

Quick review. Put the number inside the bus stop, and work from left to right. Divide each digit, and carry any remainder to the next digit. If a digit is too small, write a zero on the roof. And check by multiplying back. See you next time!