Let's divide 45988 by 21
We want to figure out the number of times 45988 can be divided by 21.

On to step 1:
The number 21 fits into 4 0 times, leaving a remainder of 4.
Record the quotient 0 as the next digit in the result. 
Result so far: 0.0
The remainder is 4 after subtracting 0 from 4.
Append the next digit (5) from the dividend to 4 and continue with: 45 / 21

On to step 2:
21 goes into 45 2 times with a remainder of 3.
The next digit of our result is 2. 
Result so far: 2.0
Deduct 42 from 45 and we're left with 3.
Take the next digit (9) from the dividend and append it to 3, then repeat: 39 / 21

Moving on to step 3:
When dividing 39 by 21, we get 1 with a remainder of 18.
Put 1 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 21.0
Subtract 21 from 39 to get 18.
Include the next digit (8) from the dividend after 18, then repeat: 188 / 21

Advancing to step 4:
If we divide 188 by 21, we get 8 and a remainder of 20.
Record the quotient 8 as the next digit in the result. 
Result so far: 218.0
If we subtract 168 from 188, we get 20.
Append the next digit (8) from the dividend to 20 and continue with: 208 / 21

Step 5:
208 divided by 21 is 9 with a remainder of 19.
The number 9 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 2189.0
Subtract 189 from 208 to get 19.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 190, and continue the process.

Advancing to step 6:
If we divide 190 by 21, we get 9 and a remainder of 1.
Record the quotient 9 as the next digit in the result. 
Result so far: 2189.9
Subtracting 189 from 190 leaves us with 1.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 10, and continue the process.

Going ahead to step 7:
The number 21 fits into 10 0 times, leaving a remainder of 10.
Write down 0 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 2189.9
Subtract 0 from 10 to 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.

Going ahead to step 8:
100 divided by 21 is 4 with a remainder of 16.
The number 4 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 2189.904
Subtracting 84 from 100 leaves us with 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 9:
21 goes into 160 7 times with a remainder of 13.
The number 7 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 2189.9047
Deduct 147 from 160 and we're left with 13.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 130, and continue the process.

Step 10:
When dividing 130 by 21, we get 6 with a remainder of 4.
The number 6 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 2189.90476
Subtract 126 from 130 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.

Advancing to step 11:
The number 21 fits into 40 1 times, leaving a remainder of 19.
The next digit of our result is 1. 
Result so far: 2189.904761
Deduct 21 from 40 and we're left with 19.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 190, and continue the process.

Step 12:
21 goes into 190 9 times with a remainder of 1.
The number 9 becomes the next digit in our result. 
Result so far: 2189.9047619
Subtracting 189 from 190 leaves us with 1.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 10, and continue the process.

Moving on to step 13:
The number 21 fits into 10 0 times, leaving a remainder of 10.
Use 0 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 2189.9047619
Subtract 0 from 10 to 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.

The quotient of the division is 2189.9047619, and the remainder is 1e-08.