Long Division Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents

Let's be honest: long division has a reputation. It's the math skill that makes parents break into a cold sweat when their child asks for help with homework.

You remember learning it. You remember it being hard. And now you're supposed to teach it?

Here's the good news: long division isn't actually complicated. It's just a series of four simple steps repeated over and over. Once you know the pattern, it becomes almost automatic.

And there's a memory trick that makes it even easier: "Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?"

Let's break down long division so you can confidently help your 4th or 5th grader master this essential skill.

The Magic Mnemonic: Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?

This is the classic teaching tool used across the United States to help kids remember the four steps of long division.

D - Divide M - Multiply S - Subtract B - Bring down

That's it. Those four steps, repeated until you're done. Every long division problem follows this exact pattern.

Your child will repeat "Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?" dozens of times while learning long division. It becomes a rhythm. A routine. And that's exactly what makes it work.

Let's see how it works with a real problem.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: 75 ÷ 3

We'll walk through one complete example, step by step, using the "Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?" method.

Problem: 75 ÷ 3

First, set it up in long division format. The 75 goes inside the division bracket, and the 3 goes outside on the left.

Step 1: D - Divide

Look at the first digit of 75, which is 7.

Ask: "How many times does 3 go into 7?"

Think about your multiplication facts: 3 x 2 = 6, and 3 x 3 = 9.

Since 9 is too big (bigger than 7), the answer is 2.

Write the 2 above the 7 in the answer space.

Key point: You're looking for the largest number that works without going over. 3 goes into 7 two times, with some left over.

Step 2: M - Multiply

Now multiply the number you just wrote (2) by the divisor (3).

2 x 3 = 6

Write the 6 below the 7.

Why are we doing this? We're figuring out how much of the 7 we've "used up" with our answer of 2.

Step 3: S - Subtract

Subtract: 7 - 6 = 1

Write the 1 below the 6.

What does this mean? After taking out 2 groups of 3 from 7, we have 1 left over. But we're not done yet!

Step 4: B - Bring down

Bring down the next digit from the original number. In this case, bring down the 5 from 75.

Write it next to the 1, making 15.

Now repeat the process with 15:

D - Divide: How many times does 3 go into 15?

• 3 x 5 = 15 (perfect!)
• Write 5 above the 5 in the answer space

M - Multiply: 5 x 3 = 15

• Write 15 below the 15

S - Subtract: 15 - 15 = 0

• Write 0 below

B - Bring down: There are no more digits to bring down, so we're done!

Answer: 75 ÷ 3 = 25

See how the pattern works? Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring down. Repeat until there are no more digits to bring down.

Understanding the Process: Why It Works

Long division is really just a way of breaking a big division problem into smaller, manageable pieces.

When we divided 75 by 3, we didn't try to do it all at once. We broke it into:

• First, divide 7 by 3 (which gives us 2 in the tens place)
• Then, divide 15 by 3 (which gives us 5 in the ones place)

The "Bring down" step is what connects these smaller problems together.

Think of it like this: If you had 75 dollars and wanted to split it equally among 3 people, you'd probably:

1. Give each person 20 dollars (that's 60 dollars total)
2. You have 15 dollars left
3. Give each person 5 more dollars (that's 15 dollars total)
4. Each person gets 25 dollars total

That's exactly what long division does, just written in a more organized way.

The Remainders Problem: What to Do with Leftovers

Not all division problems work out evenly. Sometimes you have leftovers. These are called remainders.

Example: 76 ÷ 3

Follow the same steps:

• D: 3 goes into 7 two times (write 2)
• M: 2 x 3 = 6
• S: 7 - 6 = 1
• B: Bring down the 6, making 16

Continue:

• D: 3 goes into 16 five times (write 5)
• M: 5 x 3 = 15
• S: 16 - 15 = 1
• B: No more digits to bring down

We have 1 left over. This is the remainder.

Answer: 76 ÷ 3 = 25 R1 (or "25 remainder 1")

What does this mean in real life? If you had 76 cookies and wanted to divide them equally among 3 people, each person would get 25 cookies, and you'd have 1 cookie left over.

Three ways to express remainders:

1. As a remainder: 76 ÷ 3 = 25 R1
2. As a fraction: 76 ÷ 3 = 25 1/3 (the remainder becomes the numerator, divisor becomes denominator)
3. As a decimal: 76 ÷ 3 = 25.33... (requires additional steps)

For 4th and 5th graders, expressing remainders as "R1" or as a fraction is most common.

Why Practice Sheets Are Essential

Here's the truth about long division: understanding the steps isn't enough. Your child needs muscle memory.

Long division requires:

• Remembering the four-step pattern
• Recalling multiplication facts instantly
• Keeping track of multiple numbers
• Writing neatly so digits line up correctly
• Staying focused through multiple steps

That's a lot of mental juggling. The only way to make it automatic is through repetition.

Think of it like learning to ride a bike. You can explain how to balance, pedal, and steer. But until your child actually practices riding, they won't be able to do it. Long division is the same.

The practice progression that works:

Week 1-2: Master the basics with single-digit divisors first: [INSERT LINK: 1-Digit Division Worksheets]

Start with simple problems where the divisor is a single digit (like 3, 4, 5). These problems let your child focus on the four-step pattern without getting overwhelmed by big numbers.

Examples: 84 ÷ 4, 96 ÷ 3, 125 ÷ 5

Week 3-4: Build confidence with mixed practice

Continue with single-digit divisors but increase the size of the dividend (the number being divided). This builds stamina for longer problems.

Examples: 156 ÷ 6, 248 ÷ 8, 375 ÷ 5

Week 5+: Challenge your child with larger numbers: [INSERT LINK: 2-Digit Division Worksheets]

Once single-digit divisors feel comfortable, move to 2-digit divisors. These are significantly harder because the "Divide" step requires more estimation.

Examples: 156 ÷ 12, 288 ÷ 24, 375 ÷ 15

How much practice? Aim for 10-15 problems per day, 4-5 days per week. Consistency matters more than quantity.

Troubleshooting: When Your Child Gets Stuck

Even with the "Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?" method, kids get stuck. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them.

Problem 1: "I don't know how many times it goes in"

The issue: Weak multiplication facts.

If your child struggles with the "Divide" step, it's usually because they don't know their multiplication tables well enough.

The fix:

• Review multiplication facts for the divisor
• Before starting division practice, do a quick multiplication warm-up
• Example: If dividing by 7, review 7x1, 7x2, 7x3... up to 7x10

Quick tip: Write out the multiplication table for the divisor at the top of the page as a reference. This reduces cognitive load while they're learning.

Problem 2: "My answer is wrong but I don't know where"

The issue: Subtraction errors or misaligned digits.

The fix:

• Check each subtraction step carefully
• Make sure digits line up vertically (use graph paper if needed)
• Teach them to check their work: multiply the answer by the divisor. It should equal the dividend (or be close if there's a remainder)

Example check: If 75 ÷ 3 = 25, then 25 x 3 should equal 75. It does! Answer is correct.

Problem 3: "I forgot what step comes next"

The issue: Haven't memorized the pattern yet.

The fix:

• Write "Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?" at the top of every worksheet
• Say it out loud with each step
• After a few weeks, it becomes automatic

Problem 4: "The number is too big to divide"

The issue: Trying to divide a number that's smaller than the divisor.

Example: In 234 ÷ 7, they try to divide 2 by 7, which doesn't work.

The fix:

• If the first digit is too small, look at the first TWO digits together
• In 234 ÷ 7, start with 23 (not 2)
• 7 goes into 23 three times
• Write the 3 above the 3 in 234 (not above the 2)

This is a common stumbling block. Practice identifying where to start.

Problem 5: "I got a bigger number when I subtracted"

The issue: They divided wrong in the first step (number was too big).

Example: In 75 ÷ 3, they wrote 3 instead of 2 for the first step.

• 3 x 3 = 9
• But 9 is bigger than 7, so they can't subtract

The fix:

• The multiplication result must be LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO the number you're dividing into
• If it's bigger, go back and use a smaller number in the divide step

Building Confidence: The Long Game

Long division is often considered the hardest arithmetic operation to teach. And honestly? It kind of is.

But here's what you need to remember: math is a marathon, not a sprint.

Your child won't master long division in a week. They probably won't master it in a month. And that's completely normal.

What mastery looks like:

• They can complete problems without constantly asking for help
• They remember the four-step pattern without prompting
• They catch their own mistakes
• They can explain what they're doing

Timeline expectations:

• Week 1-2: Learning the steps, lots of errors, needs constant guidance
• Week 3-4: Starting to remember the pattern, still makes mistakes
• Week 5-6: Can do problems independently but slowly
• Week 7-8: Building speed and accuracy
• Week 9-12: Comfortable with single-digit divisors

Moving to 2-digit divisors adds another 4-6 weeks to the timeline.

Your role as a parent:

• Provide consistent practice (worksheets are your friend)
• Celebrate progress, not perfection
• Review multiplication facts regularly
• Be patient when they forget steps
• Remind them: "Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?"

The Bottom Line

Long division doesn't have to be the math monster it's made out to be. With the right mnemonic, clear steps, and consistent practice, your 4th or 5th grader can master this skill.

Remember the pattern:

• Does - Divide
• McDonald's - Multiply
• Sell - Subtract
• Burgers? - Bring down

Your action plan:

1. Teach the "Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?" mnemonic
2. Walk through several examples together using the four steps
3. Start with single-digit divisor worksheets for daily practice
4. Review multiplication facts regularly
5. Progress to 2-digit divisors when ready
6. Be patient - this skill takes time

Ready to start practicing? Don't waste money on expensive workbooks that your child will finish in a week. Generate unlimited free practice worksheets customized to exactly what your child needs to work on.

Start with the basics and build from there. Your child's got this. And so do you.

Math is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep practicing, stay patient, and remember: Does McDonald's Sell Burgers?