📘 Key Vocabulary
Dividend — the number being divided (the number
inside or under the division bracket).
(dividendo)
Divisor — the number you divide by (the number
outside the bracket). (divisor)
Quotient — the answer to a division problem.
(cociente)
Remainder — the amount left over when a number
does not divide evenly. (residuo / resto)
📋 Visual Example — Parts of a Division Problem
quotient
--------
divisor | dividend
39
------
12 ) 468
468 ÷ 12 = 39 — The dividend is 468,
the divisor is 12, the quotient is
39.
🔢 Step-by-Step — DMSB Method
Remember: Divide → Multiply
→ Subtract → Bring down
(repeat!)
-
D Divide: How many
times does the divisor go into the first digits of the dividend?
-
M Multiply: Multiply
the divisor by the number you wrote on top.
-
S Subtract: Subtract
that product from the digits above.
-
B Bring down: Bring
down the next digit from the dividend.
Repeat D-M-S-B until there are no more digits to bring down.
Worked Example: 468 ÷ 12
3 9
------
12 ) 4 6 8
Step 1 (D): 12 goes into 46 → 3 times
Step 2 (M): 3 × 12 = 36
Step 3 (S): 46 - 36 = 10
Step 4 (B): Bring down 8 → 108
Step 5 (D): 12 goes into 108 → 9 times
Step 6 (M): 9 × 12 = 108
Step 7 (S): 108 - 108 = 0
No more digits. Remainder = 0.
Answer: 468 ÷ 12 = 39
💡 Memory Tip
Remember DMSB with this sentence:
"Does McDonald's Serve Burgers?"
Divide → Multiply →
Subtract → Bring down
⚠️ Watch Out!
-
Don't forget to bring down! After subtracting,
always bring down the next digit before dividing again.
-
Check your work: Multiply quotient × divisor
+ remainder. It should equal the dividend.
-
If the divisor is bigger than the first digits, use
more digits from the dividend. For example, 12 does not go into 4,
so use 46.
-
Place zeros in the quotient when the divisor
doesn't go into the number after bringing down. Don't skip that
place!