Let's divide 31971 by 42
We want to divide 31971 by 42.

Advancing to step 1:
42 goes into 3 0 times with a remainder of 3.
Put 0 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 0.0
Deduct 0 from 3 and we're left with 3.
Grab the next digit (1) from the dividend, add it to 3, then carry on: 31 / 42

Going ahead to step 2:
If we divide 31 by 42, we get 0 and a remainder of 31.
Use 0 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 0.0
Deduct 0 from 31 and we're left with 31.
Append the next digit (9) from the dividend to 31 and continue with: 319 / 42

Moving on to step 3:
42 goes into 319 7 times with a remainder of 25.
Write down 7 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 7.0
Subtracting 294 from 319 leaves us with 25.
Fetch the next digit (7) from the dividend, attach it to 25 and continue: 257 / 42

Advancing to step 4:
The number 42 fits into 257 6 times, leaving a remainder of 5.
Use 6 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 76.0
The remainder is 5 after subtracting 252 from 257.
Bring next digit (1) of the dividend behind the 5 and repeat the process: 51 / 42

Going ahead to step 5:
If we divide 51 by 42, we get 1 and a remainder of 9.
Use 1 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 761.0
If we subtract 42 from 51, we get 9.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 90, and continue the process.

Moving on to step 6:
The number 42 fits into 90 2 times, leaving a remainder of 6.
Put 2 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 761.2
The remainder is 6 after subtracting 84 from 90.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 60, and continue the process.

Advancing to step 7:
If we divide 60 by 42, we get 1 and a remainder of 18.
Use 1 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 761.21
Subtracting 42 from 60 leaves us with 18.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 180, and continue the process.

Going ahead to step 8:
If we divide 180 by 42, we get 4 and a remainder of 12.
Use 4 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 761.214
The remainder is 12 after subtracting 168 from 180.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 120, and continue the process.

Step 9:
The number 42 fits into 120 2 times, leaving a remainder of 36.
The next digit of our result is 2. 
Result so far: 761.2142
Subtracting 84 from 120 leaves us with 36.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 360, and continue the process.

Advancing to step 10:
42 goes into 360 8 times with a remainder of 24.
Put 8 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 761.21428
The remainder is 24 after subtracting 336 from 360.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 240, and continue the process.

On to step 11:
240 divided by 42 is 5 with a remainder of 30.
Use 5 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 761.214285
Deduct 210 from 240 and we're left with 30.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 300, and continue the process.

Step 12:
42 goes into 300 7 times with a remainder of 6.
Record the quotient 7 as the next digit in the result. 
Result so far: 761.2142857
The remainder is 6 after subtracting 294 from 300.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 60, and continue the process.

Going ahead to step 13:
42 can be fit into 60 1 times, resulting in a remainder of 18.
Use 1 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 761.21428571
Subtracting 42 from 60 leaves us with 18.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 180, and continue the process.

After the division, we end up with 761.21428571 and a remainder of 1.8e-08.