Long Division... Why? Why? Why?

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Long Division.... 

 Why do we teach this monotonous process of division? Why?  Kids cry and start to hate math. In reality, very few will EVER use that process to divide. Most will resort to using a calculator because the process they were taught takes too long to use to get to the correct answer. 

 By the time they solve for that "zero" answer, or that "remainder" answer, the student thinks the answer to the never-ending subtraction problem is the actual answer to the division problem! The don't realize the numbers ON TOP of the division bar form the actual answer to the division problem!

Why don't we teach short division? It is the regrouping method comparable to addition, subtraction and multiplication. When I teach this to my students, the end up enjoying division. Their response, "That's all it is?"

 What is short division? Here it is in a nut shell:

(CREDIT: http://themathpage.com/ARITH/divide-whole-numbers.htm)
(The Math Page is a GREAT SITE!!!!!!!)


What's better?  This process makes it easier to see the "___ R #" version , fraction version, and decimal version are all the same answer just shown in 3 different ways! It is THE perfect way to practice mental math subtraction skills. Saves trees! 

Give it a try! Most will NEVER go back to long division.  Long division does not teach anything in detail, that short division does not teach. Short division provides fewer opportunities for errors, too.


End of Long Division Rant. Thanks for listening.  :)

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