We divide 186988 by 72
We want to divide 186988 by 72.

On to step 1:
72 goes into 1 0 times with a remainder of 1.
Put 0 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 0.0
Subtracting 0 from 1 leaves us with 1.
Include the next digit (8) from the dividend after 1, then repeat: 18 / 72

Going ahead to step 2:
When dividing 18 by 72, we get 0 with a remainder of 18.
The number 0 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 0.0
Subtract 0 from 18 to get 18.
Append the next digit (6) from the dividend to 18 and continue with: 186 / 72

Step 3:
186 divided by 72 is 2 with a remainder of 42.
Record the quotient 2 as the next digit in the result. 
Result so far: 2.0
Deduct 144 from 186 and we're left with 42.
Grab the next digit (9) from the dividend, add it to 42, then carry on: 429 / 72

Advancing to step 4:
The number 72 fits into 429 5 times, leaving a remainder of 69.
Record the quotient 5 as the next digit in the result. 
Result so far: 25.0
The remainder is 69 after subtracting 360 from 429.
Grab the next digit (8) from the dividend, add it to 69, then carry on: 698 / 72

Advancing to step 5:
698 divided by 72 is 9 with a remainder of 50.
The next digit of our result is 9. 
Result so far: 259.0
The remainder is 50 after subtracting 648 from 698.
Take the next digit (8) from the dividend and append it to 50, then repeat: 508 / 72

Moving on to step 6:
The number 72 fits into 508 7 times, leaving a remainder of 4.
Put 7 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 2597.0
The remainder is 4 after subtracting 504 from 508.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 40, and continue the process.

Let's proceed to step 7:
40 divided by 72 is 0 with a remainder of 40.
Use 0 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 2597.0
Deduct 0 from 40 and we're left with 40.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 400, and continue the process.

Step 8:
400 divided by 72 is 5 with a remainder of 40.
Use 5 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 2597.05
The remainder is 40 after subtracting 360 from 400.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 400, and continue the process.

Going ahead to step 9:
The number 72 fits into 400 5 times, leaving a remainder of 40.
Put 5 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 2597.055
If we take 360 away from 400, we end up with 40.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 400, and continue the process.

The final outcome is 2597.055, with a leftover of 0.004.