278971 ÷ 9 
We want to figure out the number of times 278971 can be divided by 9.

On to step 1:
2 divided by 9 is 0 with a remainder of 2.
Put 0 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 0.0
The remainder is 2 after subtracting 0 from 2.
Append the next digit (7) from the dividend to 2 and continue with: 27 / 9

Moving on to step 2:
If we divide 27 by 9, we get 3 and a remainder of 0.
The next digit of our result is 3. 
Result so far: 3.0
Subtracting 27 from 27 leaves us with 0.
Fetch the next digit (8) from the dividend, attach it to 0 and continue: 8 / 9

On to step 3:
8 divided by 9 is 0 with a remainder of 8.
The number 0 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 30.0
The remainder is 8 after subtracting 0 from 8.
Take the next digit (9) from the dividend and append it to 8, then repeat: 89 / 9

Going ahead to step 4:
If we divide 89 by 9, we get 9 and a remainder of 8.
Use 9 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 309.0
Subtracting 81 from 89 leaves us with 8.
Include the next digit (7) from the dividend after 8, then repeat: 87 / 9

Let's proceed to step 5:
If we divide 87 by 9, we get 9 and a remainder of 6.
The next digit of our result is 9. 
Result so far: 3099.0
Subtracting 81 from 87 leaves us with 6.
Take the next digit (1) from the dividend and append it to 6, then repeat: 61 / 9

On to step 6:
61 divided by 9 is 6 with a remainder of 7.
Put 6 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 30996.0
If we subtract 54 from 61, we get 7.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 70, and continue the process.

Moving on to step 7:
70 divided by 9 is 7 with a remainder of 7.
The number 7 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 30996.7
Deduct 63 from 70 and we're left with 7.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 70, and continue the process.

On to step 8:
9 can be fit into 70 7 times, resulting in a remainder of 7.
Write down 7 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 30996.77
Deduct 63 from 70 and we're left with 7.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 70, and continue the process.

Our division results in 30996.77 with a remaining 0.007.