How do I do long division again?

  • Context: High School 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the topic of long division, with participants sharing their experiences and challenges related to the method. The scope includes personal anecdotes about forgetting the technique, reflections on mathematical skills, and the relevance of long division in the context of modern computational tools.

Discussion Character

  • Meta-discussion
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about forgetting how to perform long division and seeks help.
  • Another participant shares a link to a resource for long division, indicating a light-hearted approach to the topic.
  • Several participants discuss their feelings about being "mathematically challenged," with one noting a reliance on calculators for mathematical tasks.
  • A participant reflects on the relaxing nature of long division when the divisor is manageable, suggesting that it can be a comforting activity.
  • Another participant mentions that despite forgetting long division, they have not found it detrimental to their mathematical learning, as they rely on calculators for such tasks.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share a sense of camaraderie regarding their struggles with long division, but there is no consensus on the necessity of remembering the method, as opinions vary on its relevance in modern mathematics.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about their mathematical skills and the role of traditional methods like long division in their current studies, indicating a potential gap between learned techniques and practical application.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals who are revisiting basic mathematical concepts, particularly long division, or those who feel challenged by foundational math skills.

OPTIDONN
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I forgot long division!

I just realized something very scary! I totally forgot how to do long division! I can't believe it can some one please explain!
 
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Thanks! And its not funny that I am mathematically challenged! :wink:
 
OPTIDONN said:
Thanks! And its not funny that I am mathematically challenged! :wink:

Hmm--exactly how are you "mathematically challenged" ?
 
he can't do long division
 
OPTIDONN said:
Thanks! And its not funny that I am mathematically challenged! :wink:

Laughing with, not at you. :smile:

Long division is one of those skills that we tend to lose as we get accustomed to calcs and comps. Luckily I haven't lost mine. In fact, it's one of the ways I try to get to sleep. Just the other night, I was trying to figure out [itex]\ln 10[/itex] in bed. I knew [itex]\ln 2 \approx 0.693[/itex] and [itex]\log 2 \approx 0.301[/itex]. So I figured that [itex]\ln 10 = \frac{\log_2 10}{\log_2 e} = \frac{\ln 2}{\log 2} \approx \frac{693}{301} \approx 2.30[/itex], after doing the long division in my head. Then I fell asleep. :zzz:

Some people count sheep. I do this. :biggrin:
 
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I remember long division--quite relaxing indeed (assuming the divisor was only 2 or 3 digits), because I could make up my own numbers to divide. But long division is not hard, just tedious.
 
bomba923 said:
Hmm--exactly how are you "mathematically challenged" ?
I am totally helpless without a calculator. It's something I am trying to work on that's how I found this place. :-p
 
I am a senior physics undergrad, and i have forgotten how to do long division (along with forgetting my times tables, from time to time lol.) That hasn't really hampered my mathematical enrichment, since algorithmic methods such as long division are easily performed on calculators, and I see little use in needing to remember having to do it after learning it in grade school.
 

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