Skill: Use partial quotients

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

Example: Find $947 \div 4$.

1. Start with the dividend, $947$. Take away a large, easy multiple of $4$:

$$200 \times 4=800$$

Subtract:

$$947-800=147$$

Record the partial quotient $200$.

2. Take away another convenient multiple of $4$:

$$30 \times 4=120$$

Subtract:

$$147-120=27$$

Record the partial quotient $30$.

3. Take away another multiple of $4$:

$$6 \times 4=24$$

Subtract:

$$27-24=3$$

Record the partial quotient $6$.

4. The remainder is $3$. It is smaller than the divisor, $4$, so we stop.

5. Add the partial quotients:

$$200+30+6=236$$

Therefore,

$$947\div4=236\text{ remainder }3.$$

Check the answer using multiplication:

$$4\times236+3=944+3=947.$$

So the division is correct.