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Use partial quotients

Partial quotients represents division of a whole-number dividend of up to four digits by a one-digit divisor as the subtraction of convenient, place-value-based multiples of the divisor; the recorded partial quotients are added to form the quotient, with any remainder smaller than the divisor. The method connects multiplication, place value, and the equation dividend = divisor × quotient + remainder, without extending to decimal quotients, fractions, or multi-digit divisors.

Detailed Explanation: Use partial quotients

Partial quotients break a division problem into easier groups. Each group is a convenient multiple of the divisor.

Example: Find 947÷4947 \div 4.

  1. Start with the dividend, 947947. Take away a large, easy multiple of 44:
200×4=800 200 \times 4=800

Subtract:

947800=147 947-800=147

Record the partial quotient 200200.

  1. Take away another convenient multiple of 44:
30×4=120 30 \times 4=120

Subtract:

147120=27 147-120=27

Record the partial quotient 3030.

  1. Take away another multiple of 44:
6×4=24 6 \times 4=24

Subtract:

2724=3 27-24=3

Record the partial quotient 66.

  1. The remainder is 33. It is smaller than the divisor, 44, so we stop.

  2. Add the partial quotients:

200+30+6=236 200+30+6=236

Therefore,

947÷4=236 remainder 3.947\div4=236\text{ remainder }3.

Check the answer using multiplication:

4×236+3=944+3=947.4\times236+3=944+3=947.

So the division is correct.

Learn by doing: Use partial quotients

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Long Division - No Remainder 4 x 1


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