Soroban unit 7: Division
Exact division, biggest place first: take away the largest product that fits, then the rest. Check by multiplying back.
Division, biggest place first
Division on the soroban is taking away, biggest place first. For 96 ÷ 4, ask how many fours fit in the 9 tens: 2 tens, so take away 2 × 4 tens, which is 80. The 16 left is 4 fours, so take away 16. The soroban is now clear, and the parts you took, 20 and 4, make the answer 24.
With a two-digit divisor the questions are the same: 372 ÷ 12 takes away 360 (30 twelves) and then 12 (one twelve), so the answer is 31. Every division in this course comes out exactly; remainders are not part of it.
Check by multiplying back
An answer is right when it times the divisor gives the number you started with: 24 × 4 = 80 + 16 = 96. The unit shows that check on the soroban, and it is a good habit for every division you do in your head.
Facts to know
Division facts are times facts read backward: 56 ÷ 8 is 7 because 7 × 8 = 56. Number Pilot on the games page drills these facts.