Long division always uses the same pattern of steps. Explore several different problems to discover this pattern.

Question

What is the step that follows multiplication?
divide
multiply
subtract
bring down

Answer 1

In long division, the step that follows multiplication is subtract.

The typical sequence in long division is as follows:

1. Divide: Determine how many times the divisor can fit into the leading portion of the dividend.
2. Multiply: Multiply the divisor by the result from the divide step.
3. Subtract: Subtract the result of the multiplication from the portion of the dividend you took.
4. Bring down: Bring down the next digit from the dividend (if available) to form a new number.
5. Repeat the process until all digits have been brought down.

So, after you multiply in the long division process, you would then perform the subtraction step.