Division with Two-Digit Answers, Part 1
Division with two-digit answers using long division is introduced in Grade 4, Saxon Math Intermediate 4 Chapter 7. Students follow the four-step cycle—Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring Down—for each digit in the dividend. For 96 divided by 4: divide 9 by 4 to get 2, multiply 2 times 4 equals 8, subtract 9 minus 8 equals 1, bring down 6 to make 16, then divide 16 by 4 to get 4. The result is 24. A critical reminder is to write a zero placeholder in the quotient when a brought-down digit is smaller than the divisor.
Key Concepts
New Concept In this lesson we will learn a pencil and paper method for dividing a two digit number by a one digit number.
What’s next Next, you’ll apply this step by step process of dividing, multiplying, subtracting, and bringing down to solve problems with two digit answers.
Common Questions
What are the four steps of long division?
Divide, Multiply, Subtract, and Bring Down. Repeat this cycle for each digit in the dividend until no digits remain.
How do I solve 96 divided by 4 using long division?
Divide 9 by 4 equals 2. Multiply 2 times 4 equals 8. Subtract 9 minus 8 equals 1. Bring down 6 to make 16. Divide 16 by 4 equals 4. The answer is 24.
When must I place a zero in the quotient?
When the digit brought down is smaller than the divisor. For example, in 416 divided by 4, after dividing 4 by 4 and bringing down 1, you must write 0 before bringing down 6.
What happens if I skip the zero placeholder?
The quotient will have the wrong number of digits, making the answer many times smaller than it should be.
How is two-digit-answer long division different from single-digit?
The process is identical, but the quotient has two digits instead of one, requiring two complete cycles of the four-step routine.