In
arithmetic,
long division is a standard
division algorithm suitable for dividing multidigit numbers that is simple enough to perform by hand. It breaks down a
division problem into a series of easier steps. As in all division problems, one number, called the
dividend, is divided by another, called the
divisor, producing a result called the
quotient. It enables computations involving arbitrarily large numbers to be performed by following a series of simple steps. The abbreviated form of long division is called
short division, which is almost always used instead of long division when the divisor has only one digit.
Chunking (also known as the partial quotients method or the hangman method) is a less-efficient form of long division which may be easier to understand.