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Division is a touchy subject. Some say ignore it, it will go away when calculators are cheap and present everywhere. Well, most calculators are cheaper than drinking water but few people carry calculators but many carry drinking water. Luckily, cell phones have calculators, among other things, that you can use. You can use the calculator function on your phone if you remember to and feel like doing so. I don't know anyone who will admit doing so. Thus division has lived another day. That in mind, a few things you can remember can reduce the burden of division.

?One thing to try is multiplying up. You might not remember what 63 divided by 9 is, but maybe you will recall 9 times something is equal to 63. Oh yeah, 9 time 7 equals 63, so 63 divided by 9 equals 7.

?You can also make an estimate, rounding the numbers involved to easier numbers to work with. You might not get the exact answer in your estimate (in your head), but you will quickly get a number close to the answer usually.

?Another technique you might recall, less happily, is the way you might have learned it in elementary school, or perhaps middle school. I have attached 3 pages of how to do long division, that's what they called it when I was a kid (not sure who "they" are, or were). I have also included a mnemonic, or catchy and memorable phrase to jog your child's memory. The phrase "Does McDonalds Serve Burgers?" stands for Divide, Multiply, Subtract, and Bring Down. I hope you will be patient as you get through the pages. I made the pages as well as I know how to, but they are a little rough by modern standards. Please let me know what you think.

• Long division, part 1
• Long division, part 2
• Long division, part 3