CHAPTER 15

Base Method of Division

The study of division is divided in two parts. In this chapter we

will study the Base Method and in the next chapter we will
study the Paravartya Method of division.
We have seen the applications of the Base Method
in multiplication and squaring of numbers. In this method we
use powers of ten as a base and then calculate the
difference between the base and the given number. The same
concept will be used for division.

FORMAT
The style of presentation used in this system is very much
unlike the traditional system. Have a look at the diagram below:

Base
Dividend
Divisor
Difference

Quotient Remainder
184 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

We will divide the dividend in two parts. The RHS will

contain as many digits as the number of zeros in the base. The
final answer obtained on the LHS is the quotient and RHS is
the remainder.

PROBLEMS

Q. Divide 23 by 9.

We are asked to divide 23 by 9. The divisor is 9, the base is

10 and the difference is 1.
Next, since the base 10 has one zero in it, we divide the
dividend in such a way that the RHS has one digit.
We now bring down the first digit of the dividend, viz. 2, as
shown in the diagram below:
10
9 2 3
1

Next, we multiply 2 with the difference 1 and add the

answer to the next digit of the dividend as shown below:

10
9 2 3
1 2

2 5

The product of 2 and 1 (the difference) is 2 which is written

below 3. The sum of 3 and 2 is 5.
BASE METHOD OF DIVISION 185

Thus, when 23 is divided by 9 the quotient is 2 and the

remainder is 5.

Q. Divide 31 by 9.

The divisor is 9, the base is 10 and the difference is 1. We

divide the dividend in two parts with one digit in the RHS as
there is one zero in the base.

10
9 3 1
1

We write down the first digit of the dividend 3 as shown

above.
10
9 3 1
1 3

3 4

Next, we multiply the 3 written down with the difference 1.

The product so obtained is written below the second digit of the
dividend.
Finally, we add the digits 1 and 3 to get the answer 4.
Thus, the quotient is 3 and the remainder is 4.
186 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

Examples:

(A) (B)
Divide 44 by 9 Divide 71 by 9
10 10
9 4 4 9 7 1
1 4 1 7

4 8 7 8

In example (A) we bring down the first digit from the

dividend, viz. 4. Next, we multiply the 4 with the difference 1
and write it below the second digit of the dividend. The total of
the RHS is 8. Thus the quotient is 4 and the remainder is 8.
In example (B) we bring down the first digit of the dividend,
viz. 7. Next, we multiply the 7 with the difference 1 and write
the answer below the second digit of the dividend. The total of
RHS is 1 plus 7 equal to 8. Thus, the quotient is 7 and the
difference is 8.

Q. Divide 31 by 8.

10
8 3 1
2 6

3 7
 In this case the dividend is 31 and the divisor is 8.
We divide 31 into two parts with the RHS having as
many digits as the number of zeros in the base. Since,
the base ten has one zero we have one digit in the
RHS of the dividend.
BASE METHOD OF DIVISION 187

 We write the divisor as 8 and the difference below it as 2.

 We bring down the first digit of the dividend 3 as it is.
 We multiply the 3 with the difference 2 and get the
product 6. This is written down below the second digit of
the dividend, viz. 1. The total is 7. Hence, the quotient is 3
and the remainder is 7.
More examples:
Q. (A)
10
8 2 3
2 4

2 7
(B)
Divide 24 by 8
10
8 2 4
2 4

2 8
= 3/0
(C)
Divide 42 by 8
10
8 4 2
2 8

4 10
= 5/2
188 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

In example (A) we bring down the first digit 2. Next, we

multiply 2 with the difference, viz. 2. The total is 4 and is
written below the second digit of the dividend. The quotient is 2
and the remainder is 7.
In example (B) we bring down the first digit 2. Next, we
multiply 2 with 2 and get the answer 4. The total of RHS is 8.
In this case, we have the quotient as 2 and the remainder is 8.
But the remainder 8 so obtained is itself equal to the divisor.
Hence, we increase the quotient by one unit and take the
remainder as zero. The final quotient is 3 and the final
remainder is 0.
In example (C) the quotient is 4 and the remainder is 10.
The number 10 can be further divided by 8 to get a quotient 1
and remainder 2. We increase the quotient by 1 and take the
remainder 2 Thus, when 42 is divided by 8 the quotient is 5 and
the remainder is 2.

BIGGER DIVISORS
Q. Divide 502 by 99.
100
99 5 02
01 05

5 07
The quotient is 5 and the remainder is 7.
Q. Divide 617 by 95.
100
95 6 17
05 30

6 47
BASE METHOD OF DIVISION 189

In this case we write down the first digit of the dividend as it

is. We multiply 6 with the difference 5 and write the answer 30
below the RHS. The total of RHS is 47. Thus, the quotient is 6
and the remainder is 47.
In all the examples that we have seen above, we split the
dividend into LHS and RHS. However, there was only one digit
in the LHS. We will now take a look at how to solve examples
where the dividend is big and the LHS has more than one digit.

Q. Divide 123 by 9.

10
9 12 3
1 1

 The base 10 has one zero and therefore we split the

dividend in such a way that the RHS has one digit.
 Now we are left with two digits on the LHS.
 We bring down the first digit 1 as it is.
 We multiply the 1 with the difference 1 and put the
answer below the second digit of the dividend.
 The second digit of the dividend is 2 and we add 1 to it.
The total is 3.

10
9 12 3
1 1 3

13 6
190 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

 We now multiply the total 3 with the difference 1 and

write the product, viz. 3 below the third digit of the
dividend.
 The total is 6.
 Thus, the quotient is 13 and the remainder is 6.
Q. Divide 1234 by 98.
100 12 34
98 0 2
02 04

12 58
 We bring down 1 and multiply it with 02. The product 02
is written down from the second digit of the dividend.
 We now add 2 plus 0 downwards and get the second digit
of the quotient. The answer is 2.
 We multiply 2 with 02 and the final answer 04 is written
down from the third digit of the dividend.
 We add up the numbers on the RHS from the extreme
right column. The total of 4 + 4 is 8. We come to the
column on the left and add 3 + 2 + 0 = 5.
 Hence, the product is 12 and the remainder is 58.
(In the above example, the difference of 100 and 98 is
taken as 02. If we take the difference as 2 instead of 02 we
will get an incorrect answer.)

Q. Divide 2122 by 97.

100
97 21 22
03 0 6
03

21 85
BASE METHOD OF DIVISION 191

 We bring down the first digit of the dividend, 2.

 2 multiplied by the difference 03 gives 06 which is written
just below the second digit of the dividend.
 We now add 1 plus 0 downwards and get the second digit
of the quotient as 1.
 We now multiply 1 with 03 and get the answer 03, which
is written below the third digit of the dividend.
 The quotient is 21 and the remainder (obtained by adding
up the values in RHS) is 85.

Q. Divide 12311111 by 99970.

100000
99970 123 11 111
00030 00 03 0
0 00 60
00 090

123 14801

In this case we have a three-digit quotient. The numbers 1, 2

and 3 are successively multiplied with 00030 to get the final
answer. The quotient is 123 and the remainder is 14801.

MISCELLANEOUS EXAMPLES

(a) Divide 1212 by 88

88 1 2 1 2
12 1 2
3 6

13 68
192 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

(b) Divide 112 by 79

79 1 1 2
21 2 1

1 3 3

(c) Divide 3010101 by 888899

888899 3 0 1 0 1 0 1
111101 3 3 3 3 0 3

3 3 4 3 4 0 4

(d) Divide 100000 by 7996

7996 1 0 0 0 0 0
2004 2 0 0 4
4 0 0 8

1 2 4 0 4 8

(e) Divide 30001 divided by 88

88 3 0 0 0 1
12 3 6
3 6
1
0 8

3 3 9 1 6 9
=340/81
BASE METHOD OF DIVISION 193

(f) Divide 210021 by 8888

8888 2 1 0 0 2 1
1112 2 2 2 4
3 3 3 6

2 3 5 5 9 7

(g) Divide 20407 by 8987

8987 2 0 4 0 7
1013 2 0 2 6

2 2 4 3 3

(h) Divide 11007 by 799

799 1 1 0 0 7
201 2 0 1
6 0 3

1 3 6 2 0
= 13 / 620
(In examples (g) and (h) there is a carry over involved
on the RHS.)

(i) Divide 2211 by 88

88 2 2 1 1
12 2 4
4 8

2 4 9 9
= 25 / 11
194 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

(j) Divide 111301 by 897

897 1 1 1 3 0 1
103 1 0 3
2 0 6
3 0 9

1 2 3 9 7 0
= 124 / 73

(k) Divide 30122 by 87

87 3 0 1 2 2
13 39
3 9
1
69

3 3 13 2 8 1
= 343 / 281
= 346 / 20

In example (i) the divisor is 88 and the remainder is 99.

However, we cannot have the remainder greater than the
divisor. Therefore, we increase the value of the quotient by 1
and take the difference as the new remainder (99 - 88).
In example (j) the divisor is 897 and the remainder is 970.
The remainder is greater than the divisor. We increase the
value of the quotient by 1 and take the difference as the new
remainder (970 - 897).
In example (k) the total of the third quotient digit is 13. We
therefore carry over the 1 to the second quotient digit. The final
answer is 343. Next, we will divide the remainder by the divisor
and get the new quotient as 346 and new remainder as 20.
BASE METHOD OF DIVISION 195

EXERCISE

PART A
(a) Divide 102 by 74
(b) Divide 10113 by 898
(c) Divide 102030 by 7999
(d) Divide 1005 by 99

PART B
(a) Divide 431 by 98
(b) Divide 10301 by 97
(c) Divide 12000 by 889
(d) Divide 111099 by 8987
(e) Divide 30111 by 87
 CHAPTER 16

Division (Part Two)

In the previous chapter we saw how the Base Method can be

used in the process of division. One of the drawbacks of the
Base Method of division is that we can only use higher
numbers like 7, 8 and 9 in the divisor. The obvious question that
arises is how to solve a problem of division where the divisor
includes numbers like 1, 2, 3, etc. The answer is given by the
Paravartya Sutra of Vedic Mathematics, which we shall study
in this chapter. The Vedic sutra ‘Paravartya Yojayet’ means
transpose and apply.
The format and working of this system is the same as
explained in the previous chapter. However, in this case we will
have a negative difference.

(a) Divide 3966 by 113

100
113 1 2 9 6
-(13) -1 -3
-1-3

1 1 5 3
DIVISION (PART TWO) 197

 The divisor is related to the base 100 and therefore we

split the dividend in such a way that the RHS has two
digits.
 The base is 100 and the difference is -13 (negative).
 We write down the first digit 1 of the dividend as it is.
 We multiply 1 with the difference -13 and write the
answer as -1 and -3 below the second and third digits of
the dividend.
 Next, we go to the second column of the dividend. We
bring down 2 minus 1 is 1.
 We multiply 1 with -13 and write the answer as -1 and -3
below the last two digits of the dividend.
 Thus, the quotient is 11 and the difference is 53.
(Note: In this case we have represented the difference as -13.
Alternatively, it can be shown as -1-3. From the second
example onwards we will use the latter way.)

(b) Divide 2688 by 120

100
120 2 6 8 8
-2-0 -4 -0
-4-0

2 2 4 8

 The divisor is 120. Therefore, the base is 100 and the

difference is -2-0.
 We bring down 2 from the dividend.
 We multiply 2 with -2-0 and write the answer as -4-0.
 Next, we go to the second digit of the dividend.
 We bring down 6 - 4 = 2.
 We multiply 2 with -2-0 and get the answer as -4-0.
 The quotient is 22 and the remainder is 48.
198 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

Examples

(c) Divide 113968 by 1023

1023 1 1 3 9 6 8
-0-2-3 -0 -2 -3
-0 -2 -3
-0 -2 -3

1 1 1 4 1 5
Quotient = 111; Remainder = 415

(d) Divide 1999 by 180

180 1 9 9 9
-8-0 -8 -0
-8 -0

1 1 1 9
Quotient = 11; Remainder = 19

Thus we can see that the process used in this system of

division is very much similar to the process that we observed in
the previous chapter. Let us now have a look at a variety of
different examples and the technique employed in each case.
At times we might have a negative answer in the quotient.

(e) Divide 14189 by 102

102 1 4 1 8 9
-0-2 -0 -2
-0 -8
0 2

1 4(-1) 1 1
= 139 / 11
DIVISION (PART TWO) 199

 In this case we bring down the first digit 1. We multiply 1

with -0 -2 and write the answer below the second digit as
-0-2.
 Next we bring down 4-0 =4. We multiply 4 by -0-2 and
write the answer as -0-8.
 Next we bring down 1 -2 - 0 = -1 and multiply it with -0
-2 and get the answer as 0 2. (Since both the quotient and
divisor are negative the answer will be positive.)
 The quotient is 140 - 1 = 139. The remainder is 11.

(f) Divide 110999 by 1321

1321 1 1 0 9 9 9
-3-2-1 -3 -2 -1
6 4 2
-12 -8 -4

1 -2 4 0 3 5
= 84 / 035

Here the quotient is 100 - 20 + 4 equals 84. The remainder

is 035.
At times we might have a negative answer in the remainder.

(g) Divide 1693 by 131

131 1 6 9 3
-3-1 -3 -1
-9 -3

1 3 -10
= 12 / 121
200 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

In example (g) the quotient is 13 and the remainder is -10.

Therefore, we reduce the quotient by 1 and subtract the
remainder from the divisor. Hence, the quotient is 13 -1 = 12
and the remainder is 131 - 10 = 121.
Let us understand the logic of this calculation.

Suppose we have to divide 890 by 100. Now, the quotient we

have is 9 and the remainder is -10 (because 100 multiplied by 9
minus 10 is 890).

Q = 9 ; R = -10
Another way of representing the number 890 is quotient = 8
and remainder = 90.
Q=8 R = 90
In this case we have reduced the quotient by 1 and reduced
the remainder from the divisor. This same concept has been
applied in example (g).

(h) Divide 14520 by 111

111 1 4 5 2 0
-1-1 -1 -1
-3 -3
-1 -1

1 3 1 -2 -1
= 130 / 90

Here the quotient is 131 and the remainder is = -21. We

cannot have a negative remainder in the final answer. Hence,
we reduce the quotient by 1 and subtract the remainder from
the divisor. The final quotient is 130 and final remainder is 90.
DIVISION (PART TWO) 201

(i) Divide 16379 by 1222

1222 1 6 3 7 9
-2-2-2 -2 -2 -2
-8 -8 -8

1 4 -7 -3 1
= 13 / 493
Here the quotient is 14 and the remainder is (-700 -30 + 1)
which equals -729. We now reduce the quotient by 1
and subtract the remainder from the divisor. The final quotient
is 13 and remainder (1222 - 729) equals 493.

(b) Substitution Method

Sometimes the divisors are such that it is difficult to calculate
the answer by itself. In these cases, we substitute the divisor
using another number and then calculate the answer.
(j) Divide 10030 by 827
In this case the dividend is 10030 and the divisor is 827. We
will solve the question using the normal method and the
substitution method. In the normal method we will take the
divisor as 827 and the difference as 173. In the substitution
method, we will take the divisor as 827 and the difference 173
will be represented as 200 – 30 + 3 = 2 – 3 + 3
Normal Method Substitution Method
827 1 0 0 3 0 827 1 0 0 3 0
173 1 7 3 2-33 2 -3 3
1 7 3 4 -6 6

1 1 9 3 3 1 2 1 0 6
= 12 / 106
The answer is the same in either case.
202 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

(k) Divide 10000 by 819

In the normal method we will take the divisor as 819 and the
difference as 181. In the substitution method we will write the
divisor as 819 and the difference 181 as 200 - 20 + 1 = 2 -2 +1

Normal Method Substitution Method

819 1 0 0 0 0 819 1 0 0 0 0
181 1 8 1 2-21 -2 -2 1
1 8 1 4 -4 2

1 1 9 9 1 1 2 2 -3 2
= 12 / 172 = 12 / 172
(Remainder 200 - 30 + 2 = 172)
In the two examples given above we substituted the
difference with some other number. Another way of substitution
is by dividing/multiplying the divisor with a suitable number so
that it becomes closer to a base and then we can multiply it
quickly.

(l) Divide 1459 by 242

We divide 242 by 2 and make it 121. We will now perform

the division with the new dividend 121.
121 1 4 5 9
-2-1 -2 -1
-4 -2

2) 1 2 0 7
= 6 / 07
The quotient is 12 and the remainder is 07. But this answer
is with respect to the divisor 121. We want to find the answer
DIVISION (PART TWO) 203

with respect to the divisor 242. Since 242 is divided by 2 to

obtain 121, we divide the quotient by 2 and get the answer 6.
The remainder always remains the same.

(m) Divide 1112 by 33

In this case we multiply the divisor 33 by 3 and make it 99.

Note that the difference in this case is 01 and not 1.
99 1 1 1 2
01 0 1
0 1

1 1 2 3
× 3
3 3

The quotient is 11 and the difference is 23. Since 33 is

multiplied by 3 to obtain 99, we multiply 11 by 3 and make it
33. The remainder remains the same. The final quotient is 33
and the final remainder is 23.

(n) Divide 12657 by 791

We divide 791 by 7 and get the answer as 113. Therefore,

the new divisor is 113.
113 1 2 6 5 7
-1-3 -1 -3
-1 -3
-2 -6

7) 1 1 2 0 1
= 16 / 01
The divisor 791 is divided by 7 to get the answer 113.
Therefore, we divide 112 by 7 and get the answer as 16.
204 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

(o) Divide 1389 by 61

We multiply 61 by 2 and get the new divisor as 122.

122 1 3 8 9
-2-2 -2 -2
-2 -2

1 1 4 7
× 2
2 2 /4 7
The quotient is 22 and the remainder is 47.

EXERCISE

PART A
(a) Divide 1389 by 113
(b) Divide 145516 by 1321
(c) Divide 136789 by 12131
(d) Divide 246406 by 112

PART B
(a) Divide 13592 by 114
(b) Divide 25430 by 1230
(c) Divide 15549 by 142
(d) Divide 101156 by 808 (Hint: Take difference 192 as
2 – 1 + 2)

PART C
(a) Divide 4949 by 601 (Hint: Use 601 × 2 = 1202 as divisor)
(b) Divide 14799 by 492 (Hint: Use 492/4 = 123 as divisor)