• Key Stage 2 • Maths
Short division is the formal written method for dividing a number by a one-digit number, sometimes called the bus stop method. Pupils learn it in Year 4 and Year 5 and use it with two-digit numbers in Year 6. This guide explains the method step by step, with worked examples, remainders and practice questions.
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The Quick Answer
- Short division is a written method for dividing, often called the bus stop method because of how it is laid out.
- You divide one digit at a time from left to right and carry any remainder to the next digit.
- In Year 5, pupils divide numbers up to 4 digits by a one-digit number.
- In Year 6, they also use short division with two-digit numbers where appropriate.
When Pupils Learn Short Division
| Year | What the national curriculum says |
|---|---|
| Year 4 | Become fluent in short multiplication and short division with exact answers |
| Year 5 | Divide numbers up to 4 digits by a one-digit number using short division and interpret remainders |
| Year 6 | Divide numbers up to 4 digits by a two-digit number using short division where appropriate |
How to Do Short Division
- Write the number being divided inside the “bus stop” and the divisor outside it.
- Divide the first digit by the divisor. If it does not go, use the first two digits.
- Write the answer above and carry the remainder to the next digit, written small in front of it.
- Repeat for each digit until you reach the end.
Worked Example: 4,932 ÷ 6
| Step | Working | Write |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 goes into 4 zero times. Carry the 4 to make 49 | 0 |
| 2 | 49 ÷ 6 = 8 remainder 1. Carry the 1 to make 13 | 8 |
| 3 | 13 ÷ 6 = 2 remainder 1. Carry the 1 to make 12 | 2 |
| 4 | 12 ÷ 6 = 2 | 2 |
Answer: 4,932 ÷ 6 = 822. Check with the inverse: 822 × 6 = 4,932.
Worked Example with a Remainder: 3,457 ÷ 8
| Step | Working | Write |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 goes into 3 zero times. Carry the 3 to make 34 | 0 |
| 2 | 34 ÷ 8 = 4 remainder 2. Carry the 2 to make 25 | 4 |
| 3 | 25 ÷ 8 = 3 remainder 1. Carry the 1 to make 17 | 3 |
| 4 | 17 ÷ 8 = 2 remainder 1 | 2 r 1 |
The answer is 432 remainder 1. It can also be written as a fraction, 432 1/8, or as a decimal, 432.125. In a word problem, the context tells you whether to round up or down.
Short Division by a Two-Digit Number: 3,456 ÷ 12
In Year 6, short division can be used with two-digit numbers when the multiples are easy to work out.
| Step | Working | Write |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 goes into 3 zero times. Look at 34 | 0 |
| 2 | 34 ÷ 12 = 2 remainder 10. Carry the 10 to make 105 | 2 |
| 3 | 105 ÷ 12 = 8 remainder 9. Carry the 9 to make 96 | 8 |
| 4 | 96 ÷ 12 = 8 | 8 |
Answer: 3,456 ÷ 12 = 288. For harder two-digit divisors, long division is often clearer.
Tip: if the divisor does not go into a digit, write 0 above it before carrying. Missing out the zero is one of the most common mistakes.
Short Division Practice Questions
- 852 ÷ 4
- 1,736 ÷ 7
- 2,745 ÷ 5
- 6,318 ÷ 9
- 4,125 ÷ 3
- 5,000 ÷ 8
- 6,050 ÷ 11
- 1,512 ÷ 12
Show the answers
- 213
- 248
- 549
- 702
- 1,375
- 625
- 550
- 126
These questions have remainders. Write each answer as a fraction:
- 1,234 ÷ 5
- 2,019 ÷ 4
- 3,250 ÷ 7
- 96 children are put into teams of 7. How many full teams can be made?
Show the answers
- 246 r 4 = 246 4/5
- 504 r 3 = 504 3/4
- 464 r 2 = 464 2/7
- 13 full teams (96 ÷ 7 = 13 r 5)
Common Mistakes
- Missing zeros in the answer: in 6,318 ÷ 9, 9 does not go into 1, so write 0 above it. The answer is 702, not 72.
- Forgetting to carry the remainder: the remainder must move to the next digit.
- Writing the remainder as a decimal digit: 432 r 1 is not 432.1.
- Remainders that are too big: a remainder must always be smaller than the divisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is short division called the bus stop method?
Because the number being divided sits inside a shape that looks like a bus shelter, with the divisor waiting outside.
What is the difference between short and long division?
In short division you work out the remainders mentally and carry them. In long division the multiplication and subtraction are written out in full.
What year do children learn short division?
Pupils become fluent with exact answers in Year 4 and divide numbers up to 4 digits with remainders in Year 5.
Can you use short division with two-digit numbers?
Yes. The Year 6 curriculum says pupils can use short division with two-digit numbers where appropriate.
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Sources: Department for Education, National curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of study, including Mathematics Appendix 1. Practice questions written by Monster Learning.
