Long Division for Kids: Example Problems and Solutions

How to Help Your Child Practice Long Division

Long division can be challenging for kids because they have to follow multiple steps to solve a problem. You can help your child by modeling the problem solving steps. Have your child watch you solve a long division problem, and then have him or her solve one by him- or herself. For additional support, you can write the steps on a note card so your child can keep them nearby during class or homework time.

You also should make sure your child knows long division terminology, such as dividend, divisor, quotient and remainder. In the problem 21 ÷ 2, 21 is the dividend, or the number being divided, and 2 is the divisor, or the number by which the dividend is being divided. The quotient is the answer, and the remainder is what's left over. For this problem, the quotient is 10 with a remainder of 1, which typically is written 10 R1.

You might teach your child to use trial and error when solving long division problems. Consider the problem 61 ÷ 12. Your child should begin by using estimation to get as close as he or she can to 62. For example, he or she might first try multiplying 12 x 4. The answer (48) is too small, so your child should move on to the next number. Because 12 x 5 = 60, it's as close as possible to 61. The answer is 5 R1.

Long Division Problems and Solutions

1. 103 ÷ 9

The answer for this problem is 11 R4.

2. 611 ÷ 150

The answer is 4 R11. With this problem, you might remind your child to use the trial and error method. Six hundred is as close to 611 as possible (150 x 4 = 600), so your child should write 4 on top of the long division sign. Then, he or she should subtract to find the remainder: 611 - 600 = 11.

3. 99 ÷ 14

The answer is 7 R1.

4. A kindergarten teacher wants to distribute crayons to each student. She has 312 crayons, and there are 34 students in the class. How many crayons will each student receive?

Because 312 ÷ 34 = 9 R6, each child will receive nine crayons, and there will be six crayons left over.

5. There are 64 cherries in one cherry pie. If George has 224 cherries, how many pies can he make, and how many cherries will be left over?

Your child should begin by dividing 224 by 64. The answer is 3 R32, which means George can make three pies, and there will be 32 cherries left over.

6. At a wedding, there will be 399 guests. Instead of one big cake, the bride wants to bake small heart-shaped cakes for her guests to share. If three guests can share one heart-shaped cake, how many cakes does the bride need to bake?

Because 399 ÷ 3 = 133, the bride needs to bake 133 heart-shaped cakes.