Last updated: October 22, 2026 · Written by the Math Made Easy math teachers
Looking for 6th grade long division? Then this Grade 6 lesson on Long Division with Multi-Digit Divisors explains each idea step by step, with worked examples.
Quick answer: Long division splits a dividend into equal groups using the steps divide, multiply, subtract and bring down. It works with multi-digit divisors, and the answer is a quotient with an optional remainder. Estimating first and checking by multiplication catch most mistakes.
Standards: 6.NS.B.2 · Level: Grade 6
How does the long division algorithm work?
In 7,344 ÷ 24 = 306, the dividend is 7,344, the divisor is 24, and the quotient is 306. If the divisor does not fit evenly, the leftover amount is the remainder.
- Divide: how many times does the divisor fit into the leftmost digits?
- Multiply: quotient digit × divisor.
- Subtract from the digits you used.
- Bring down the next digit and repeat until none are left.
Find 7,344 ÷ 24. Since 24 does not fit into 7, start with 73: 24 goes in 3 times (72), leaving 1. Bring down 4 to make 14. The divisor does not fit, so write 0. Bring down 4 to make 144, and 24 × 6 = 144 leaves 0.
Answer: 306.
How do you estimate a quotient?
Round to compatible numbers, which are easy to divide. Because 24 × 3 = 72, the number 7,200 is a friendly stand-in for 7,344, and 7,200 ÷ 24 = 300. If your quotient is far from 300, find the mistake.
What do you do with a remainder?
The question decides what to do with the remainder.
| Question asks | Remainder is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| How many full groups? | dropped | 350 ÷ 12 = 29 R 2, so 29 full packs |
| How many are needed? | rounded up | 250 ÷ 48 = 5 R 10, so 6 buses |
| How much is left? | reported | 2 pencils left over |
How do you check the answer?
quotient × divisor + remainder = dividend. For 875 ÷ 26 = 33 R 17: 26 × 33 + 17 = 858 + 17 = 875.
Forgetting to write 0 in the quotient when the divisor does not fit. That shifts every digit and makes the answer ten times too small.
Write the remainder next to the quotient with an R, and make sure it is smaller than the divisor. If it is not, the quotient digit was too small.
- Steps: divide, multiply, subtract, bring down, repeat.
- The remainder must be smaller than the divisor.
- Estimate with compatible numbers, such as 7,200 ÷ 24 = 300.
- Check: divisor × quotient + remainder = dividend.
- The question decides whether a remainder is dropped, rounded up, or reported.
Long Division with Multi-Digit Divisors: frequently asked questions
What are the steps of long division?
Divide, multiply, subtract, and bring down the next digit, then repeat. Continue until every digit of the dividend has been used.
How do you estimate a long division answer?
Round the dividend and divisor to compatible numbers that divide easily. For 7,344 ÷ 24 you can use 7,200 ÷ 24 = 300.
What does the remainder mean?
The remainder is the amount left over after making as many full groups as possible. It must always be smaller than the divisor.
When do you round a remainder up?
Round up when everything must be placed, such as students on buses. If 250 students ride in buses of 48, the 10 extra students need a sixth bus.
How do you check a long division answer?
Multiply the quotient by the divisor and add the remainder. The result must equal the dividend, as in 26 × 33 + 17 = 875.