Divide 4-Digit by 1-Digit

Grade 4 · mathematics · 69 practice problems · read aloud

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Dividing 4-Digit Numbers by 1-Digit Numbers

What is it and why is it useful? 🤔

This is the process of splitting a large number (like 1,236) into equal groups. For example, if you have 1,236 stickers to share fairly among 3 friends, you would divide! It helps us solve real-world sharing and grouping problems.

How to Solve: The Step-by-Step Guide

We use long division. Remember the steps with the family: Dad, Mom, Sister, Brother, Rover.

  1. Dad (Divide): Ask, "How many times does the divisor go into the first digit?"
  2. Mom (Multiply): Multiply your answer by the divisor.
  3. Sister (Subtract): Subtract that number from your current digits.
  4. Brother (Bring down): Bring down the next digit.
  5. Rover (Repeat/Remainder): Repeat the steps until you have a remainder or zero.

Visual Examples

Example 1: 1,236 ÷ 3

1. Divide: 3 into 1? Can't. So, 3 into 12 is 4.
2. Multiply: 4 x 3 = 12.
3. Subtract: 12 - 12 = 0.
4. Bring down: the 3.
5. Divide: 3 into 3 is 1.
6. Multiply: 1 x 3 = 3. Subtract: 3 - 3 = 0.
7. Bring down: the 6.
8. Divide: 3 into 6 is 2.
9. Multiply: 2 x 3 = 6. Subtract: 6 - 6 = 0.
Answer: 412

Example 2: 2,457 ÷ 5

1. Divide: 5 into 2? Can't. 5 into 24 is 4.
2. Multiply: 4 x 5 = 20.
3. Subtract: 24 - 20 = 4.
4. Bring down: the 5.
5. Divide: 5 into 45 is 9.
6. Multiply: 9 x 5 = 45. Subtract: 45 - 45 = 0.
7. Bring down: the 7.
8. Divide: 5 into 7 is 1.
9. Multiply: 1 x 5 = 5. Subtract: 7 - 5 = 2.
Answer: 491 R2

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to bring down all digits: It's easy to stop early! Make sure you bring down every digit until you reach the ones place.

Wrong multiplication: Double-check your multiplication in the "Mom" step. A small mistake here makes the whole problem wrong.

Misplacing the quotient digit: Write each new number in the correct place value spot in your answer.

Tips & Tricks

🔹 Estimate First: Round the big number. 1,236 ÷ 3 is about 1,200 ÷ 3 = 400. This tells you if your final answer is reasonable.

🔹 Know Your Times Tables: The faster you are with multiplication facts, the easier division becomes!

🔹 Check Your Work: Multiply your answer (quotient) by the divisor. If you had a remainder, add it at the end. You should get the original number back.

How to Practice

  • Start with simple 4-digit numbers divisible by 2, 5, or 10.
  • Use graph paper to keep your numbers neatly in columns.
  • Create your own word problems. "If I have 3,645 marbles and 5 jars..."
  • Ask a friend or parent to give you a problem to solve. Teaching someone else is a great way to learn!

Practice problems

6 of the 69, worked through step by step — try them before opening the answer.

1 864 ÷ 12 = ?

Hint: Think about how many times the divisor fits into the dividend, working from left to right.

Show the answer

Answer: 72

  1. Set up the division problem. We want to divide 864 by 12. This means we need to find how many times 12 fits into 864.
  2. Start with the hundreds place. Look at the first digit of 864, which is 8 (in the hundreds place). 12 is larger than 8, so 12 does not fit into 8. We must consider the first two digits instead.
  3. Consider the first two digits: 86. Now, how many times does 12 fit into 86? We can estimate: 12 × 7 = 84, which is less than 86. 12 × 8 = 96, which is too big. So, 12 fits into 86 a total of 7 times.
  4. Multiply and subtract. Write 7 above the 6 in 86 (in the tens place of the answer). Multiply: 7 × 12 = 84. Subtract this from 86: 86 - 84 = 2.
  5. Bring down the next digit. Bring down the next digit from 864, which is 4. This makes the new number 24.
  6. Divide 24 by 12. How many times does 12 fit into 24? 12 × 2 = 24 exactly. So, write 2 above the 4 in 864 (in the ones place of the answer).
  7. Multiply and subtract again. Multiply: 2 × 12 = 24. Subtract: 24 - 24 = 0.
  8. Conclusion. Since the remainder is 0, we have finished.

Let's solve 864 ÷ 12 step-by-step. The answer is the number we wrote above the division bracket: 72. Therefore, 864 ÷ 12 = 72.

2 1,248 ÷ 4 = ?

Hint: Think about how many times the divisor fits into each digit of the dividend, working from left to right.

Show the answer

Answer: 312

  1. Divide the thousands place. 4 goes into 12 (the first two digits) how many times? 4 × 3 = 12. Write 3 in the hundreds place of the quotient (since 12 is 12 hundreds). 12 − 12 = 0.
  2. Bring down the next digit, which is 4. Now we have 4. 4 goes into 4 how many times? 4 × 1 = 4. Write 1 in the tens place of the quotient. 4 − 4 = 0.
  3. Bring down the next digit, which is 8. Now we have 8. 4 goes into 8 how many times? 4 × 2 = 8. Write 2 in the ones place of the quotient. 8 − 8 = 0.
  4. There is no remainder. So, 1,248 ÷ 4 = 312. Final check: 312 × 4 = 1,248, which matches the original number.

Let's solve 1,248 ÷ 4 step by step. We are dividing 1,248 into 4 equal parts.

3 2,856 ÷ 4 = ?

Hint: When dividing a larger number by a smaller one, work through each digit from left to right. Remember to bring down any remainders to the next digit.

Show the answer

Answer: 714

  1. Set up the division. We are dividing 2,856 by 4.
  2. Divide the thousands place. 4 goes into 2 how many times? 2 is less than 4, so we take the first two digits: 28. 4 goes into 28 exactly 7 times (because 4 × 7 = 28). Write 7 above the 8 (in the hundreds place of the quotient).
  3. Multiply and subtract. 7 × 4 = 28. 28 − 28 = 0. Bring down the next digit, which is 5.
  4. Divide the tens place. Now we have 5. 4 goes into 5 one time (4 × 1 = 4). Write 1 above the 5 (in the tens place of the quotient).
  5. Multiply and subtract. 1 × 4 = 4. 5 − 4 = 1. Bring down the next digit, which is 6.
  6. Divide the ones place. Now we have 16. 4 goes into 16 exactly 4 times (4 × 4 = 16). Write 4 above the 6 (in the ones place of the quotient).
  7. Multiply and subtract. 4 × 4 = 16. 16 − 16 = 0. No remainder. So the quotient is 714. Final check: 714 × 4 = 2,856, which matches the original number. Answer: 714

Let's solve 2,856 ÷ 4 step by step using long division.

4 1,296 ÷ 6 = ?

Hint: Break down the division into smaller steps, starting with the largest place value.

Show the answer

Answer: 216

  1. Set up the division: 1,296 ÷ 6
  2. Divide the thousands place: 1 thousand ÷ 6 = 0 thousands, so move to the hundreds place
  3. Divide 12 hundreds ÷ 6 = 2 hundreds (write 2 in hundreds place)
  4. Bring down the 9 to make 9 tens
  5. Divide 9 tens ÷ 6 = 1 ten (write 1 in tens place) with remainder 3 tens
  6. Convert remainder 3 tens to 30 ones, plus the 6 ones = 36 ones
  7. Divide 36 ones ÷ 6 = 6 ones (write 6 in ones place)
  8. The final answer is 216

5 1,248 ÷ 6 = ?

Hint: Break down the division into smaller steps, starting with the largest place value.

Show the answer

Answer: 208

  1. Set up the division: 6 into 1,248.
  2. 6 does not go into 1, so consider the first two digits: 12.
  3. 12 ÷ 6 = 2. Write 2 above the 2 in the hundreds place.
  4. Multiply: 2 × 6 = 12. Subtract: 12 - 12 = 0.
  5. Bring down the next digit, which is 4. Now you have 4.
  6. 4 ÷ 6 = 0. Write 0 above the 4 in the tens place.
  7. Multiply: 0 × 6 = 0. Subtract: 4 - 0 = 4.
  8. Bring down the last digit, which is 8. Now you have 48.
  9. 48 ÷ 6 = 8. Write 8 above the 8 in the ones place.
  10. Multiply: 8 × 6 = 48. Subtract: 48 - 48 = 0.
  11. The quotient is 208.

The answer is 208.

6 1,836 ÷ 6 = ?

Hint: Break down the division into smaller steps, starting with the largest place value.

Show the answer

Answer: 306

  1. Set up the division: 6 into 1,836.
  2. 6 does not go into 1, so consider 18. 6 goes into 18 three times (6 × 3 = 18). Write 3 above the 8.
  3. Subtract 18 from 18, which is 0. Bring down the 3.
  4. 6 does not go into 3, so write 0 above the 3. Bring down the 6.
  5. 6 goes into 36 six times (6 × 6 = 36). Write 6 above the 6.
  6. Subtract 36 from 36, which is 0.

The answer is 306.

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