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Decimal numbers are not divided directly, the dividend and divisor are multiplied by a power of ten so that the division involves two whole numbers. Therefore, if one were dividing 12,7 by 0,4 (commas being used instead of decimal points), the dividend and divisor would first be changed to 127 and 4, and then the division would proceed as above.
Long division is the standard algorithm used for pen-and-paper division of multi-digit numbers expressed in decimal notation. It shifts gradually from the left to the right end of the dividend, subtracting the largest possible multiple of the divisor (at the digit level) at each stage; the multiples then become the digits of the quotient, and the final difference is then the remainder.
For division to always yield one number rather than an integer quotient plus a remainder, the natural numbers must be extended to rational numbers or real numbers. In these enlarged number systems, division is the inverse operation to multiplication, that is a = c / b means a × b = c, as long as b is not zero.
Graphs of functions commonly used in the analysis of algorithms, showing the number of operations versus input size for each function. The following tables list the computational complexity of various algorithms for common mathematical operations.
In binary arithmetic, division by two can be performed by a bit shift operation that shifts the number one place to the right. This is a form of strength reduction optimization. For example, 1101001 in binary (the decimal number 105), shifted one place to the right, is 110100 (the decimal number 52): the lowest order bit, a 1, is removed.
and −2 is the least absolute remainder. In the division of 42 by 5, we have: 42 = 8 × 5 + 2, and since 2 < 5/2, 2 is both the least positive remainder and the least absolute remainder. In these examples, the (negative) least absolute remainder is obtained from the least positive remainder by subtracting 5, which is d. This holds in general.
Two numbers can be divided on paper using long division. An abbreviated version of long division, short division, can be used for smaller divisors. A less systematic method involves the concept of chunking, involving subtracting more multiples from the partial remainder at each stage.
This pen-and-paper method uses the same algorithm as polynomial long division, but mental calculation is used to determine remainders. This requires less writing, and can therefore be a faster method once mastered. The division is at first written in a similar way as long multiplication with the dividend at the top, and the divisor below it.