Read the problem; the first number is the dividend. This is the number that is divided into a certain number of equal parts. You will then see a division symbol, which either looks like a line with one dot above and one dot below it or one that looks like a backslash. You most likely will not see the long division symbol during basic division. The number that follows this symbol is called the divisor; this is the number of equal parts the dividend is separated into. Finally, the answer you will find after solving this problem is called the quotient.
Use a piece of scratch paper and draw out the number of dots that the dividend represents. For example, if the dividend is 12, draw 12 dots.
Look at the divisor to determine divisibility; if the divisor is three, your goal is to create three equal sections of dots and you need to find out how many dots will be in each section.
Calculate what number multiplied by three equals 12. Dividing is the opposite of multiplying, so you can solve the problem 12 divided by three equals X by solving the problem three times X equals 12, X being the unknown number. This also translates to X plus X plus X equals 12, if you're more comfortable with adding, keeping in mind X must be the same number. Because four times three, or four plus four plus four, equals 12, you know that four is your quotient. Check your answer by circling three even sections of four dots.
Read the problem to find your dividend and divisor. If your new problem is 144 divided by 12, you won't want to draw 144 dots on a scrap piece of paper.
Determine the divisibility of 144; in order for this number to be divisible by 12 it must be divisible by two, three, four and six. A number is divisible by two if it is even, which 144 is. A number is divisible by three if the sum of all individual digits is divisible by three. The sum of one plus four plus four is nine, which is divisible by three. A number is divisible by four if the the last two digits of the number is divisible by four. 44 is divisible by four. A number is divisible by six if it is divisible by two and three, which 144 is.
Use a piece of scratch paper to try solving this problem backwards. Multiply 12 by 10 to get 120. You will need a slightly larger number. Try multiplying 12 by 11 to get 132. You will still need a higher number. Multiply 12 by 12 to get 144. The number 12 is your quotient.
Use a calculator to divide 144 by 12 to check your answer.