We're dividing 171946 by 42 
We want to figure out the number of times 171946 can be divided by 42.

On to step 1:
When dividing 1 by 42, we get 0 with a remainder of 1.
Record the quotient 0 as the next digit in the result. 
Result so far: 0.0
Subtract 0 from 1 to get 1.
Append the next digit (7) from the dividend to 1 and continue with: 17 / 42

Moving on to step 2:
42 goes into 17 0 times with a remainder of 17.
The number 0 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 0.0
Subtracting 0 from 17 leaves us with 17.
Take the next digit (1) from the dividend and append it to 17, then repeat: 171 / 42

Moving on to step 3:
171 divided by 42 is 4 with a remainder of 3.
Use 4 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 4.0
If we subtract 168 from 171, we get 3.
Fetch the next digit (9) from the dividend, attach it to 3 and continue: 39 / 42

Advancing to step 4:
39 divided by 42 is 0 with a remainder of 39.
Put 0 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 40.0
If we subtract 0 from 39, we get 39.
Append the next digit (4) from the dividend to 39 and continue with: 394 / 42

Going ahead to step 5:
394 divided by 42 is 9 with a remainder of 16.
The next digit of our result is 9. 
Result so far: 409.0
The remainder is 16 after subtracting 378 from 394.
Include the next digit (6) from the dividend after 16, then repeat: 166 / 42

Advancing to step 6:
If we divide 166 by 42, we get 3 and a remainder of 40.
Use 3 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 4093.0
The remainder is 40 after subtracting 126 from 166.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 400, and continue the process.

Moving on to step 7:
If we divide 400 by 42, we get 9 and a remainder of 22.
The number 9 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 4093.9
If we take 378 away from 400, we end up with 22.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 220, and continue the process.

Step 8:
220 divided by 42 is 5 with a remainder of 10.
Write down 5 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 4093.95
Deduct 210 from 220 and we're left with 10.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 100, and continue the process.

Going ahead to step 9:
If we divide 100 by 42, we get 2 and a remainder of 16.
Use 2 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 4093.952
Subtract 84 from 100 to get 16.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 160, and continue the process.

On to step 10:
42 can be fit into 160 3 times, resulting in a remainder of 34.
Use 3 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 4093.9523
Deduct 126 from 160 and we're left with 34.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 340, and continue the process.

On to step 11:
42 can be fit into 340 8 times, resulting in a remainder of 4.
Write down 8 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 4093.95238
Subtract 336 from 340 to get 4.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 40, and continue the process.

On to step 12:
42 can be fit into 40 0 times, resulting in a remainder of 40.
Use 0 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 4093.95238
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.

Moving on to step 13:
If we divide 400 by 42, we get 9 and a remainder of 22.
Record the quotient 9 as the next digit in the result. 
Result so far: 4093.9523809
If we subtract 378 from 400, we get 22.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 220, and continue the process.

Going ahead to step 14:
If we divide 220 by 42, we get 5 and a remainder of 10.
The number 5 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 4093.95238095
If we subtract 210 from 220, we get 10.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 100, and continue the process.

Our division results in 4093.95238095 with a remaining 1e-08.