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When the Estimate Is Too Large
publish date: 2026/05/11 07:08:23.514934 UTC
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During long division, if you multiply your estimate by the divisor and the product is greater than the partial dividend, what should you do?
Correct Answer
Decrease the estimate by 1.
Explanation
If the product exceeds the partial dividend, the estimate was too large. Erase it, decrease the estimate by 1, and redo the multiply and subtract steps. If the resulting difference is still ≥ the divisor, increase it instead — the estimate must satisfy: product ≤ partial dividend, and difference < divisor.
Reference
Mathematics for college students