How to Do the Chunking Method

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Look at the problem.

   When given a division problem that cannot be solved using short division, you can use the chunking method to find the quotient.
   
   This method is also called the "partial quotients method" because you are essentially finding the total quotient one part at a time.
   
   All parts will eventually be added together so that you can find the final, total quotient.
   
   Example:
   Use the chunking method to find the quotient of 731 ÷
   5.
2. 2

   Step 2: Know which multiples are easiest to find.

   The "easy" multiples of your dividend are those that can be quickly calculated in your head.
   
   Usually, they will be the multiples calculated when you multiply the dividend by the easy multipliers of 1000, 100, 10, 5, or
   2., Determine the largest easy multiple you can calculate for the equation.
   
   You must multiply the divisor by one of the easy multipliers to come up with a number that is less than the value of the dividend.
   
   Example:
   You can multiply the divisor, 5, by the multipliers of 100, 10, 5, and 2 to come up with a product that is less than the value of the dividend,
   731.
   
   The largest of these multipliers is 100, so you would multiply 5 * 100 to produce an easy multiple of
   500. , Subtract the product or partial quotient you just found from the dividend.
   
   The difference between the two will be the next value that you work with.Example:
   You'll need to subtract 731 –
   500.
   
   The answer is
   231.
   
   You'll have to break down the difference, 231, like you broke down the dividend,
   731. , Identify the next largest easy multiple and subtract it from the difference you just calculated.
   
   Repeat this process as needed until the difference between two subtracted numbers is either “0” or a number less than the original divisor.Example:
   The next easy multiple you can work with in this problem is 10, so multiply 5 * 10 to reach a product of
   50.
   
   Subtract 50 from the previous difference, 231, as so: 231 – 50 = 181 The easy multiple 50 can still be used since it is less than the new difference,
   181.
   
   As such, you must continue to subtract by 50 until the difference is less than that value: 181 – 50 = 131 – 50 = 81
   - 50 = 31 Identify the next highest easy multiple.
   
   The next best multiplier to use would be 5, so your next multiple would be 25 (5 * 5 = 25).
   
   Subtract 31 – 25, which gives you an answer of
   6.
   
   The divisor, 5, can be subtracted as is from the difference, 6: 6 = 5 = 1 Since 1 is less than 5 (the original divisor), the calculations end here. , When you are left with “0” at the end of your calculations, there is no remainder.
   
   Any number other than “0” that is smaller than the divisor would be a remainder, though.
   
   Example:
   For this problem, there is a remainder of
   1. , You'll need to add all of the multipliers you used while chunking the equation to find your final answer.
   
   Multipliers used more than once must be added the number of times they were used.
   
   Any time you subtracted the actual divisor without multiplying it by a separate multiplier, you must add a
   1.Example:
   In this equation, you used the multiplier 100 once, 10 four times, 5 once, and 1 once, so you must add together: 100 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 146 , Your final answer is the sum calculated in the previous step, along with any remainder identified in the step before it.
   
   The remainder should be proceeded with an “R.” Example:
   The answer to 731 ÷ 5 is 146 R1 , This equation could technically be solved with short division, but if you don't know the answer already, you could still use the chunking method to find the correct answer. , The easiest multiple is the largest possible easy multiple of the divisor.
   
   In this case, it would be
   70.
   
   You would find the multiple, 70, by multiplying 7 by the easy multiplier of
   10.
   
   Using a lower easy multiplier would give you a value that is smaller than necessary.
   
   Using a higher easy multiplier, like 100, would give you a multiple that is larger than the dividend,
   84. , The difference is
   14.
   
   Since 14 is still larger than 7, you need to continue you calculations further. , If you've memorized your multiplication tables, you will already know that 7 * 2 =
   14.
   
   Since the product of 7 and 2 is no larger than the difference calculated in the previous step, this product (14) is your next easiest multiple.
   
   Note that the multiplier used here is 2, which happens to be one of the standard easy multiples. , The difference between these values is
   0.
   
   When you reach a difference of 0, you have found all of the partial quotients you can find.
   
   The chunking portion of your calculations is complete. , In this case, you would need to add 10 + 2, giving you an answer of
   12.
   
   You used the multiplier 10 once.
   
   You used the multiplier 2 once. , The answer to 84 ÷ 7 is
   12.
   
   Note that there was no remainder in this problem. , Since this equation cannot be solved simply by using short division, it makes sense to use the chunking method of division to find the quotient. , The largest possible easy multiple of your divisor, 72, would be
   720.
   
   This multiple is found by multiplying 72 by the easy multiplier
   10.
   
   A larger easy multiplier, like 100, would produce a multiple that is too large for the equation (7200) since the multiple must be smaller than the dividend,
   931. , The difference between the dividend and the multiple is
   211.
   
   Since 211 is larger than 72, you must continue chunking to find the final answer.
   
   Note that 211 is smaller than 720, so you will need to find a new multiple to use. , The next easiest multiple you can use would
   144.
   
   You need to use an easy multiplier smaller than the previous multiplier,
   10.
   
   The next highest easy multiplier is 5, but 72 * 5 =
   360.
   
   Since 360 is larger than 211, this multiple cannot be used.
   
   The next highest easy multiplier after that is 2, and 72 * 2 =
   144.
   
   Since 144 is smaller than 211, this is the multiple you should use. , The difference between the two values is
   67.
   
   Since 67 is smaller than the original divisor, 72, your chunking calculations must stop here. , You'll need to add together 10 + 2, giving you an answer of
   12.
   
   Note, however, that there is also a remainder value for this equation: 67 The remainder must be included when you write your final answer. , The answer to 931 ÷ 72 is 12 R67. , Short division cannot be used to solve this problem, so using the chunking method can be a practical solution. , The largest easy multiple you can use would be
   1120.
   
   This multiple is found by multiplying 112 and the easy multiplier
   10.
   
   A larger easy multiplier, like 100, would create a product that is larger than the quotient, so it cannot be used.
   
   A smaller easy multiplier would not be as practical, even though it could technically be used. , The difference between the quotient and the multiple is
   448.
   
   Since 448 is larger than 112, you will need to continue chunking the equation.
   
   Since 1120 is larger than the difference, 112, you can no longer use that multiple. , The largest easy multiple you can use at this point would be
   224.
   
   You can get 224 by multiplying 112 *
   2.
   
   In this case, 2 is the easy multiplier used.
   
   Even though the multiplier 5 is smaller than the multiplier 10 and larger than the multiplier 2, 112 * 5 =
   560.
   
   Since 560 is larger than 224, it cannot serve as an easy multiple in this problem. , The difference between the two values is
   224.
   
   Notice that 224 is the same value as your chosen multiple.
   
   As such, you will continue to use 224 as your chosen multiple and subtract it from the difference. , The answer is
   0.
   
   Since you've reached 0, there can be no further chunking for this problem. , You must add 10 + 2 + 2, giving you an answer of
   14.
   
   You used the multiplier 10 only once.
   
   You used the multiplier 2 a total of two times. , The answer to 1568 ÷ 112 is
   14.
   
   Note that there is no remainder for this problem.
3. 3

   Step 3: Identify the largest easy multiple for the equation.

4. 4

   Step 4: Subtract the product from the dividend.

5. 5

   Step 5: Repeat as needed.

6. 6

   Step 6: Identify any remainder.

7. 7

   Step 7: Add up the multipliers.

8. 8

   Step 8: Write the final answer.

9. 9

   Step 9: Solve 84 ÷ 7.

10. 10

    Step 10: Identify the easiest multiple.

11. 11

    Step 11: Subtract 84 – 70.

12. 12

    Step 12: Identify the next easiest multiple.

13. 13

    Step 13: Subtract 14 – 14.

14. 14

    Step 14: Add the multipliers together.

15. 15

    Step 15: Write your answer.

16. 16

    Step 16: Solve 931 ÷ 72.

17. 17

    Step 17: Identify the easiest multiple.

18. 18

    Step 18: Subtract 931 – 720.

19. 19

    Step 19: Identify the next easiest multiple.

20. 20

    Step 20: Subtract 211 – 144.

21. 21

    Step 21: Add the multipliers together.

22. 22

    Step 22: Write your answer

23. 23

    Step 23: including the remainder.

24. 24

    Step 24: Solve 1568 ÷ 112.

25. 25

    Step 25: Identify the next easiest multiple.

26. 26

    Step 26: Subtract 1568 – 1120.

27. 27

    Step 27: Identify the next easiest multiple.

28. 28

    Step 28: Subtract 448 – 224.

29. 29

    Step 29: Subtract 224 – 224.

30. 30

    Step 30: Add the multipliers.

31. 31

    Step 31: Write your answer.

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