Column Method Calculator
Type two numbers and choose an operation. You get the answer, the working laid out in columns and a plain description of each step, which is handy for checking homework.
Adding and taking away accept decimals. Multiplying and dividing use whole numbers.
Worked examples
Long multiplication
478 × 36
17,208
478 × 6 = 2,868 and 478 × 30 = 14,340, and 2,868 + 14,340 = 17,208.
Division with a remainder
125 ÷ 4
31 remainder 1
Or 31.25 if you carry on into decimals.
About Column Method Calculator
The column methods are the written ways of adding, taking away, multiplying and dividing that children learn at primary school: set the numbers out in columns, work from the right, carry or borrow when you need to, and write the answer underneath. Parents are often asked to help with homework in a method they learned differently, and it helps to see the working laid out.
Type two numbers, choose an operation and this page shows the answer, the calculation set out in columns, and a numbered list of steps. Addition shows each carry, subtraction shows each borrow, long multiplication shows one line for each digit of the second number with the zeros added for tens and hundreds, and division works through the digits one at a time, ending with a remainder or carrying on into decimals. Everything is worked out exactly, with no rounding, even for big numbers.
How to use Column Method Calculator
- Choose add, take away, multiply or divide.
- Type the two numbers. Adding and taking away accept decimals.
- Read the answer and the calculation laid out in columns.
- Follow the steps below to check each stage of the child's own working.
Common uses
- Helping with primary school maths homework
- Checking a child's working to find a slip
- Learning the written methods as an adult
- Seeing a worked example before a test
Frequently asked questions
What is the column method?
It is a way of writing a calculation with the digits in columns by place value: ones under ones, tens under tens and so on. You work from the right and carry or borrow between columns.
How does borrowing work in subtraction?
If the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit, you borrow 1 from the next column to the left. That 1 is worth 10 in the column you are working on, so you add 10 to the top digit and take 1 away from the next one.
How is long multiplication laid out?
Multiply the top number by each digit of the bottom number, starting with the ones. For the tens, put a zero in the ones place first. Then add up the lines.
What is short division?
Short division divides one digit at a time from the left, carrying any remainder to the next digit. It is also called the bus stop method.
Can I divide into decimals?
Yes. Tick the box and the working carries on after the last digit by adding zeros after a decimal point, up to four decimal places.