This long division calculator divides whole numbers and shows each step of the long division, just as you would write it on paper. It gives the quotient and remainder, the answer as a mixed number, and the exact decimal, marking digits that repeat forever.
How long division works
- Divide: see how many times the divisor goes into the current part of the dividend.
- Multiply: multiply the divisor by that digit.
- Subtract: subtract to find what is left.
- Bring down: bring down the next digit and repeat until no digits are left.
What remains at the end is the remainder. A handy way to remember the order is “Does McDonald’s Sell Burgers”: divide, multiply, subtract, bring down.
Worked example
1,234 ÷ 7: 7 goes into 12 once (remainder 5), into 53 seven times (remainder 4), and into 44 six times (remainder 2). So 1,234 ÷ 7 = 176 remainder 2, or 176 2/7. As a decimal it is 176.(285714), where 285714 repeats forever.
Checking your answer
Multiply the quotient by the divisor and add the remainder: 176 × 7 + 2 = 1,234.
Frequently asked questions
What is the remainder in division?
The amount left over when one whole number does not divide another exactly. It is always smaller than the divisor.
How do I turn a remainder into a fraction?
Put the remainder over the divisor: 176 remainder 2 when dividing by 7 is 176 2/7.
Why do some decimals repeat?
When the divisor has prime factors other than 2 and 5, the division never ends and the remainders start to cycle, so the digits repeat.
Can I divide decimals with this calculator?
It works with whole numbers. To divide decimals, multiply both numbers by the same power of 10 to remove the decimal points first; the quotient stays the same.
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Last reviewed: October 2026.