How to Divide 3-Digit by 2-Digit Numbers in 3 Easy Steps

Dividing a 3-digit number by a 2-digit number is a key skill introduced in Grades 4–5 at school and tackled even earlier in Think Academy’s Grade 3–4 curriculum. These problems can be tricky—students often struggle to estimate two-digit divisors, keep place value aligned, or understand what to do with remainders.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the long division method step by step, using clear examples and visuals to help your child solve with confidence. Free printable worksheets are available at the end.

Dividing 3-digit by 2-digit numbers

When dealing with 3-digit ÷ 2-digit problems, we often use Long Division, also called the Division Algorithm. Let’s look at this example:

• 901 is the dividend (the number we want to divide)
• 17 is the divisor (the number we divide by)

Need help dividing 2-digit by 1-digit numbers? Check out our other blog: Dividing 2-digit by 1-digit numbers.

3 Steps to Solve 3-Digit ÷ 2-Digit Using Long Division

Step 1: Divide the first part of the dividend

Look at the first part of 901. Since we are dividing by 17, which is a 2-digit number, and 9<17, we need to start by looking at the first two digits of the dividend: that’s 90.

Find how many times the divisor can divide that number (or numbers) without exceeding that number. 

The result is 5, so we write 5 above the 0 in 901.

If we’re working on a different problem, like 171 ÷ 19, and the first two digits (in this case, 17) are less than the divisor, then we need to look at the first three digits of the dividend instead.

Step 2: Multiply and write the result under the dividend

Take the quotient from Step 1 and multiply it by the divisor.

5 × 17 = 85

Write the result under the digits we just divided.

Step 3: Subtract

Subtract the result from Step 2 from the digits above.

90 – 85 = 5

The diagram below shows the current step-by-step process of Long Division.

We are not done yet! When there are more digits in the dividend, we bring down the next digit to continue dividing.

Repeat the Steps

Bring down the last digit of 901 (which is 1), and we have 51. Now we repeat Steps 1, 2, and 3 until the leftover part is smaller than the divisor (that’s the remainder), or zero (no remainder).

The remainder is 0.

Final Answer:

901÷ 17 = 53

Example Problems: Using Long Division to Solve 3-Digit ÷ 2-Digit

Example 1

Problem:

Calculate the result by division

728÷14

Solution:

The answer is 52.

Example 2

Problem:

What is the quotient of the following division? What is the remainder?

846÷36

Solution:

The quotient is 23 and the remainder is 18.

Summary: How to Solve 3-Digit ÷ 2-Digit Using Long Division

Divide a 3-digit number by a 2-digit number using long division step-by-step:

• Divide the first few digits of the dividend;
• Multiply and subtract;
• Bring down the next digit and repeat, keep going until:
  • The leftover part is smaller than the divisor (that’s the remainder), or
  • The leftover part is zero (no remainder). In this case, we can write our final answer like this:

Want more printable worksheets for practicing?

Even More Math Worksheets for Practice!

We’ve created a full library of printable resources — from foundational math to logic-based challenges — organized by grade to support every stage of your child’s journey.

Additional Math Topics for Division – with Free Worksheets

• Grade 3 :How to Divide 2-Digit by 1-Digit Numbers in 3 Easy Steps
• Grade 6: How to Divide Fractions in 3 Simple Steps
• Algebra 1:
  • How to Divide a Polynomial by a Monomial in 2 Simple Steps
  • How to Divide Polynomials in 4 Simple Steps

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