USING LONG DIVISION

Sometimes we may find it difficult to divide a number by another number using simplification. In that kind of situations, long division will be used.

In this section, we are going to see, how long division can be used to divide a number by another number.

The method for long division is given by

Example 1 :

A local zoo had a total of 98,464 visitors last year. The zoo was open every day except three holidays. On average, how many visitors did the zoo have each day?

Solution :

Total number of days in an ordinary year = 365.

The zoo was open every day except three holidays.

So, total number of days that zoo opened = 362.

Total number of visitors in the year = 98646.

Therefore, number of visitors visited the zoo each day is nothing but the quotient when we divide 98464 by 362.

Let us use long division to estimate the quotient when we divide 98464 by 362.

Step 1 :

362 is greater than 9 and 98, so divide 984 by 362. Place the first digit in the quotient in the hundreds place. Multiply 2 by 362 and place the product under 984. Subtract.

Step 2 :

Bring down the tens digit. Divide 2,606 by 362. Multiply 7 by 362 and place the product under 2,606. Subtract.

Step 3 :

Bring down the ones digit. Divide the ones.

When we divide 98464 by 362, we get the quotient 272.

Hence, the average number of visitors per day last year was 272.

Example 2 :

Marco paid $39 for 8 tubes of oil paint. About how much did each tube cost?

Solution :

Cost of each tube is nothing but the quotient when we divide 39 by 8.

Let us use long division to estimate the quotient when we divide 39 by 8.

Since 39 is not evenly divisible by 8, place a decimal point in the quotient. Add zeros to the right of the decimal point as needed.

Round to the nearest hundredth to find the dollar amount.

Therefore, the cost of each tube is about $4.88.

Example 3 :

A school track is 9.76 meters wide. It is divided into 8 lanes of equal width. How wide is each lane ?

Solution :

The width of each lane is nothing but the quotient when we divide 9.76 by 8.

Let us use long division to estimate the quotient when we divide 9.76 by 8.

When we use the digit which comes after the decimal point, place a decimal point in the quotient directly above the decimal point in the dividend.

Therefore, each lane is 1.22 meters wide.

Example 4 :

Aerobics classes cost $153.86 for 14 sessions. What is the fee for one session ?

Solution :

The fee for one session is nothing but the quotient when we divide 153.86 by 14.

Let us use long division to estimate the quotient when we divide 153.86 by 14.

When we use the digit which comes after the decimal point, place a decimal point in the quotient directly above the decimal point in the dividend.

Therefore, the fee for one aerobics class is $10.99.

Example 5 :

Callie has 1,850 books. She must pack them into boxes to ship to a bookstore. Each box holds 12 books. How many boxes will she need to pack all of the books ?

Solution :

To find the number of boxed that she needs to pack all of the books, we have to divide 1850 by 12.

So, let us divide 1850 by 12 using long division.

From the above long division, we get

Quotient = 154

Remainder = 2

Callie can pack the books in 154 boxes perfectly and with 2 books left. So, she needs 155 boxes to pack all the books.

Kindly mail your feedback to v4formath@gmail.com

We always appreciate your feedback.