Three digit division.
For most people this is a challenge.
Sometimes there are shortcuts, like the ones we discussed here:
In other cases you need a general way of working that is suitable for mental calculation.
I present here my general way of working.
It involves mostly 2 digit subtractions with each step. Or 3 digits where the 3rd digit is a zero. So each step should be easy to do.
The hard part - as always - is focusing on the numbers and keeping the numbers in your head.
An example will make this clear:
\frac{2359}{767}
First I mentally focus on 2359 and make a guess how many times 767 goes into 2359. Let’s try 3 times. The process is that we subtract first 3x700 from 2359, then 3X60 and then 3X7:
2359 - 2100 = 259. I focus on just the 2300 part of 59. So 2300 - 2100 = 200. This is a two digit subtraction.
Then I mentally add 59. Concatenate might be a better word for the mental process.
259 - 180 = 79. I subtract 200 from 200 to get 0 then add 20, add the 59 = 79.
79 - 21 = 58. Or do 260-180 = 80. 80-1 = 79.
Answer so far: 3 r 58.
Shift decimal point: 58 => 580.
767 does not go into 580.
Answer so far: 3.0 r 580
580 => 5800. 767 goes about 7 times into it.
5800 - 4900 = 900. Forget the zeros and just focus on the hundreds: 58 - 49.
900 - 420 = 480.
480 - 49 = 431. (480-50+1)
Answer so far: 3.07 r 431
431 => 4310. Six times is too much. Try 5 times:
4310 - 3500 = 810. Focus on 43 - 35, then add 10.
810 - 300 = 510.
510 - 35 = 475. I do 510 - 10 - 25.
Answer so far: 3.075 r 475
475 => 4750. 6 times?
4750 - 4200 = 550.
550 - 360 = 190.
190 - 42 = 148.
Answer so far: 3.0756 r 148
148 => 1480. 2 times?
1480 - 1400 = 80.
80 - 120 = -40.
-40 - 14 = -54.
Answer so far: 3.07562 r -54
-54 => -540. Zero times.
Answer so far: 3.075620 r -540
-540 => -5400. 7 times?
-5400 + 4900 = -500
-500 + 420 = -80
-80 + 49 = -31
From the answer - without digital separator - of 30756200 I mentally see or focus on only ‘200’.
I just subtract 7 from 200 = 193:
Answer so far: 3.0756193 r -31
-31 => -310. zero times.
Answer so far: 3.07561930 r -310
-310 => -3100. 4 times?
-3100 + 2800 = -300.
-300 + 240 = -60.
-60 + 28 = -32.
From the answer - without digital separator - of 3075619300 I mentally see and do is on only ‘300’ I just subtract 4 from 300 = 296:
Let’s stop here since the remainder is small.
Answer : 3.075619296 r -32
ohh, I can feel the numbers already.