Talk:Long division

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents 1 Another Request 2 Problem 3 Multiple digit divisor 4 Request for improvement 5 Symbol Name 6 Remove "python implementation" 7 Short division 8 Standards based mathematics reform 9 My hands are up 10 the fifth grade teachers manual 11 History of Long Division

[edit] Another Request

Maybe somebody could state a different method of doing long division (but keeping everything that's currently there), as this may be very confusing to somebody learning it for the first time with only a general concept of math. Thanks.. anything would be much appreciated.

Maybe an easy remembering methid like DMSB (Dirty Mice Smell Bad)? as in D(irty)=Divide M(ice)=Multiply S(mell)=Subtract B(ad)=Bring down? 130.13.98.191 19:33, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Problem

There's a problem with this Bold texte xample. In step 3, you say "place a zero to the right of [it]". It's only zero here because of the particular example, the general method is to "pull down" thBold textd next digit in the dividend above. That doesn't make this example incorrect - but it doesn't make the method clear for any number. If you take the step to mean "add a zero" you won't get the right answer. edita cerna i love u p 2003 (UTC)

I just clarified it. Dysprosia 06:31, 7 Sep 2003 (UTC)

[edit] Multiple digit divisor

This also doesn't clarify a method when using a multiple digit divisor. —The preceding [[Wikipedia:Sign youeditar posts on talkcerna pages|unsigned]] commenilovet was added by you24.11.140.191 (talk • contribs) 10:39, July 28, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Request for improvement

An anonymous editor added this comment to the top of the article:

--This article needs to be improved. It explains a mathmatical method that is usually used by those in mandatory education in a style aimed at the intelligent, this is near useless to all guests.

Michael Hardy 22:06, 4 December 2005 (UTC)

Yes, the example is poor, and can be better done with simple division --scruss 12:34, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

I've changed the example, to be a bit more instructive I think. Paul August ☎ 18:46, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Symbol Name

Can't seem to find any reference outside this article to the term perquin, or its supposed coiners. --scruss 12:34, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

I've removed the "perquin" term as dubious, MathWorld in their long division article says "The symbol separating the dividend from the divisor seems to have no established name". I suspect this was added as a sneaky vandalism. Paul August ☎ 18:46, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Remove "python implementation"

The python implementation is useless. The entire division is done in one simple line, using python's built in division:

digit=numerator/denominator

It doesn't explain in any way how to do division, just how to add decimals if you already have a working integer division function. --Ropez 16:53, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Short division

Just wondering whether a comparison to short division is in order? Actaully there is no short division page on Wikipedia, perhaps this is in order too. :)

That's actually why I decided to check out this page, wondering whence the "long" derives --Belg4mit 16:38, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

Me too :-) It'd be interesting to know. Maybe because it takes longer than simply using a computer? (*smirk*) -- Coffee2theorems 20:38, 5 August 2007 (UTC)

The short/long distinction is apparently only one of style, not substance: in short division, you don't write down the intermediate steps [1]. However, Knuth (TAOCP, v2, exercise 16 on page 282) and others ([2] [3] et al) have used the phrase to name an instance of division where the divisor has a single digit (or 'limb', in the parlance of some multiple-precision arithmetic packages). So the current example in this article could be said to be "short", not "long", division. mdf 16:21, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Standards based mathematics reform

This section is rather weak. Who uses "R" for remainder"? The remainder is the remainder, not a variable. Simple. And what, praytell, are teachers teaching if not this? --Belg4mit 16:38, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

What I find curious there is the claim that mathematicians don't use long division. Well, sure, they tend to use CASs, but what if you're away from your computer and just need to divide a few polynomials (for which simple calculators don't work)? I've never seen anyone use anything else but long division on paper (or blackboard) for that. As for "R", I guess it refers to the "r" in a=qd+r, where it is indeed a variable.. But who cares what you call the variable, and isn't "r" the usual convention anyway? Maybe it means that you shouldn't use a capital "R" but a small "r"? -- Coffee2theorems 20:38, 5 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] My hands are up

I can't do long division and this example did not help in the slightest. I think the explanation should be changed/modified. Perhaps some colour coding.

I'm a relitavely intelligent guy. I have taught myself programming but I could not learn from this example.

Dopple 15:12, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] the fifth grade teachers manual

fifth grade manual? from what country/state? Could we get a citation for that? ~~ Pete Iriarte 19:20, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] History of Long Division

I came to this article looking for insight into the history of the method used for long division. Would someone please add a history section? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.97.204.233 (talk) 20:16, 16 December 2007 (UTC)