Home >> Science & Nature >> Numerology

How to Do Division Fast

Dividing large numbers can be a time-consuming process. In long division, you need to perform a number of different mathematical operations -- such as dividing, multiplying, and subtracting -- in order to solve a given problem. However, if you're dealing with a single digit divisor, there are some tricks you can use to solve division problems much faster regardless of how many digits the dividend is. You just need to rearrange the problem and break the dividend into smaller parts.

Instructions

- 1
  Rearrange the problem with the divisor placed in front of the the dividend. For example, 725432 divided by 4, should be rearranged as 4 parts of 725432.
- 2
  Take parts of the dividend and divide them by the divisor. Using the example above, you would start by taking the first two numbers in the dividend and dividing by 4. When you divide 72 by 4 you get 18 (72/4 = 18). Since 72 is perfectly divisible by 4, there is a remainder of 0. Write down the number 18 in the quotient or answer, and place the remainder of 0 back in the dividend as a subscript. With the subscript included, the dividend will be 72{0}5432.
- 3
  Divide the next two numbers in the dividend by 4. When performing this step, make sure to include the remainder subscript that was placed back in the dividend. Since the remainder was 0 in the last step, you divide 05 by 4 to get 1 with a remainder of 1 (5/4 = 1 r1). Write down 1 in the quotient and place the remainder of 1 back in the dividend to get 72{0}5{1}432.
- 4
  Divide the next two numbers in the dividend by 4. Since the remainder was 1 in the last step, you divide 14 by 4 to get 3 with a remainder of 2 (14/4 = 3 r2). Write down the 3 in the quotient and place the remainder of 2 back in the dividend to get 72{0}5{1}4{2}32.
- 5
  Divide the next two numbers in the dividend by 4. Since the remainder was 2 in the last step, you divide 23 by 4 to get 5 with a remainder of 3 (23/4 = 5 r3). Write down the 5 in the quotient and place the remainder of 3 back in the dividend to get 72{0}5{1}4{2}3{3}2.
- 6
  Divide the next two numbers in the dividend by 4. Since the remainder was 3 in the last step, you divide 32 by 4 to get 8 with a remainder of 0 (32/4 = 8). Write down the 8 in the quotient. You don't need to place the remainder of 0 back in the dividend because 32 is perfectly divisible by 4. If you completed the steps correctly, your finalized equation should be 725432 / 4 = 181358. If the last number of the dividend does not divide evenly, place a decimal point and a 0 at the end of the number. You can then write in whatever remainder you got as a subscript after the decimal point and continue dividing the next two numbers in the dividend by the divisor. Keep in mind you will also have to include a a corresponding decimal point in the quotient.

Numerology