Division
Bus Stop Method
The bus stop method for division is the only method we all
find reliable, whatever the numbers are. It is helpful to
start by writing out the tines table of the number you are
dividing by.
Without a remainder
7 time table: 1 x 7 = 7
2 x 7 = 14
3 x 7 = 21
7 252
0
2
7 2 52
03
2 4
7 252
252 ÷ 7
4 x 7 = 28
5 x 7 = 35
6 x 7 = 42
7 x 7 = 49
8 x 7 = 56
9 x 7 = 63
The first step is how many 7s in 2 – the
answer is 0, with 2 left over, so we put
the 0 above the bus stop and carry
the 2
0
2
7 2 52
The next step is how many 7s in 25.
We can see from our times table that
3x7=21, so the answer is 3, with 4
left over.
03
2 4
7 252
The final step is how many 7s in 42.
Our times table says 6x7 = 42 so the answer
is 6, with nothing left over.
So,
252 ÷ 7 = 36
036
2 4
7 252
With a remainder
6 times table:
5 196
0
1
5 1 96
196 ÷ 5
1x5=5
2 x 5 = 10
3 x 5 = 15
4 x 5 = 20
5 x 5 = 25
6 x 5 = 30
7 x 5 = 35
8 x 5 = 40
9 x 5 = 45
Again, we start at the far left and ask
how many 5s there are in 1. The answer
is 0, with 1 left over.
0
1
5 1 96
Now, how many 5s in 19.
3x5=15 so the answer is 3 with 4
left over.
0 3 Next, how many 5s in 46.
1 4
5 1 9 6 9x5 = 45 so the answer is 9 with
1 left over – we have run out of
numbers to carry the 1 on to,
so we move in to decimals
03 9
1 4
1
5 1 9 6. 0
03
1 4
5 19 6
03 9
1 4
1
5 1 9 6. 0
Finally, how may 5s in 10.
This goes exactly 2 times
so we can finish the bus stop,
remembering to put a
decimal in our answer.
0 3 9. 2
1 4
1
5 1 9 6. 0
So 196 ÷ 5 = 39.2
Dividing by 10, 100 or 1000
The digits move 1,2 or 3 places to the right.
450 ÷ 10 = 45
450 ÷ 100 = 4.5
450 ÷ 1000 = 0.45
Dividing by 4
Halve the number then halve it again.
128 ÷ 4
half of 128 =64
half of 64 = 32
So 128 ÷ 4 = 32