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Researchers and analysts who search for division in LaTeX usually need one of four different things: a division sign inside a formula, a stacked fraction, a long-division layout, or a way to split an equation across lines. This guide separates them and gives the command for each. The commands below are taken from Overleaf’s documentation and the CTAN package listing, both read on 2026-11-07.
What is the LaTeX symbol for dividing?
The division sign (÷) is typed with \div, in math mode, for example $a \div b$. Overleaf’s list of Greek letters and math symbols places \div and \times together under “Binary Operation/Relation Symbols”, which means LaTeX treats it as an operator between two operands, not as a fraction.
For other relation and operator symbols, see the CASRAI guides on less-than in LaTeX, greater-than in LaTeX and the therefore symbol in LaTeX.
Which notation for which job
“Division” covers four separate tasks, and search results for the phrase mix them together. Use this table to pick the right one.
| Your task | Use | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Division sign between two terms in a line of text or a formula | \div |
Listed with \times under binary operation symbols (Overleaf symbol list) |
| Numerator over denominator | \frac{numerator}{denominator}, e.g. \frac{1}{2} |
Overleaf, Fractions and Binomials |
| Continued fraction | \cfrac (needs the amsmath package) |
Overleaf: designed specifically to produce continued fractions |
| Long division worked out on the page | The longdivision package (macros \longdivision and \intlongdivision) |
CTAN package listing, version 1.2.2, 2023-10-21 |
| Splitting a long equation or text across lines | \\ |
Overleaf, Line breaks and blank spaces |
Fractions with \frac
A fraction is typeset with \frac{numerator}{denominator}; Overleaf’s example is \frac{1}{2}. If the reader should see a stacked fraction rather than a division sign, use this, not \div.
Two further controls are documented. \cfrac produces continued fractions and requires amsmath (\usepackage{amsmath}). The \displaystyle and \textstyle commands change how large a fraction is set and how it is spaced. Source: Overleaf, Fractions and Binomials.
How do I type the long division symbol?
Base LaTeX has no single command for the long-division bracket layout. The CTAN package longdivision typesets it. The package provides the macros \longdivision and \intlongdivision, requires xparse (part of the l3packages bundle), and is distributed in TeX Live and MiKTeX under the LaTeX Project Public License. According to the CTAN listing, the dividend must be a positive decimal and the divisor a positive integer, repeating decimals are shown with a bar over the repeating part, and dividends of up to about 20 digits work well while 20 to 60 digits work less gracefully. The package manual on CTAN gives the exact argument syntax. A related package, longdiv, is listed on the same page.
What does \\ do in LaTeX?
Two backslashes force a line break; Overleaf’s example shows it behaving the same as \newline and \hfill \break, and the text after the break is not indented. It is the answer to “dividing an equation into two lines”, which is a layout question rather than arithmetic. Variants documented on Overleaf, Line breaks and blank spaces: the starred form \\* breaks the line but prohibits a page break at that point, and \linebreak[n] takes a priority from 0 (easily ignored) to 4 (always applied).
How to write | in LaTeX?
The vertical bar is a different symbol from division. It is covered separately in the vertical line in LaTeX.
Free alternatives
| Need | Free route | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Division sign and fractions | Built in: \div and \frac; \cfrac needs the amsmath package |
Overleaf documentation |
| Long-division layout | The longdivision package (LPPL licence), available through TeX Live and MiKTeX | CTAN |
FAQ
Is division in LaTeX the same as a fraction?
No. \div gives the ÷ operator between two terms; \frac stacks a numerator over a denominator. Choose by how the reader should see the expression.
Can I show repeating decimals in long division?
Per CTAN, the longdivision package puts a bar over the repeating part.
Sources
- Overleaf: Fractions and Binomials (read 2026-11-07)
- Overleaf: List of Greek letters and math symbols (read 2026-11-07)
- Overleaf: Line breaks and blank spaces (read 2026-11-07)
- CTAN: longdivision (read 2026-11-07)
