Grade 4 Long Division: Word Problems

Worked examples

Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.

1. Example 1

   A bakery has to pack 917 cupcakes. Each box holds 2 cupcakes. How many boxes are needed to pack all of the cupcakes?

   1. We know the total (917) and how many fit in one group (2), and we want how many groups. That is division: 917 ÷ 2.
   2. 917 ÷ 2: take away 2 × 400 = 800 (117 left), 2 × 50 = 100 (17 left), 2 × 8 = 16 (1 left). 400 + 50 + 8 = 458, so 917 ÷ 2 = 458 R1.
   3. 458 boxes hold 916, but 1 more still needs a place, so one more is needed: 458 + 1 = 459.
   4. So the answer is 459 boxes.

   Answer: 459

2. Example 2

   A teacher has 895 markers. She puts 5 markers in each cup. How many cups does she fill?

   1. We know the total (895) and how many fit in one group (5), and we want how many groups. That is division: 895 ÷ 5.
   2. 895 ÷ 5: take away 5 × 100 = 500 (395 left), 5 × 70 = 350 (45 left), 5 × 9 = 45 (0 left). 100 + 70 + 9 = 179, so 895 ÷ 5 = 179.
   3. So the answer is 179 cups.

   Answer: 179

3. Example 3

   567 chairs are set up in rows of 7. How many rows are there?

   1. We know the total (567) and how many fit in one group (7), and we want how many groups. That is division: 567 ÷ 7.
   2. 567 ÷ 7: take away 7 × 80 = 560 (7 left), 7 × 1 = 7 (0 left). 80 + 1 = 81, so 567 ÷ 7 = 81.
   3. So the answer is 81 rows.

   Answer: 81