872531 divided by 3 
We're looking to find how many times 3 goes into 872531.

On to step 1:
If we divide 8 by 3, we get 2 and a remainder of 2.
Put 2 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 2.0
If we subtract 6 from 8, we get 2.
Grab the next digit (7) from the dividend, add it to 2, then carry on: 27 / 3

On to step 2:
If we divide 27 by 3, we get 9 and a remainder of 0.
Put 9 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 29.0
Subtracting 27 from 27 leaves us with 0.
Fetch the next digit (2) from the dividend, attach it to 0 and continue: 2 / 3

Step 3:
If we divide 2 by 3, we get 0 and a remainder of 2.
Put 0 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 290.0
Subtract 0 from 2 to get 2.
Grab the next digit (5) from the dividend, add it to 2, then carry on: 25 / 3

Let's proceed to step 4:
The number 3 fits into 25 8 times, leaving a remainder of 1.
Use 8 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 2908.0
Deduct 24 from 25 and we're left with 1.
Grab the next digit (3) from the dividend, add it to 1, then carry on: 13 / 3

Step 5:
3 goes into 13 4 times with a remainder of 1.
The next digit of our result is 4. 
Result so far: 29084.0
Subtracting 12 from 13 leaves us with 1.
Grab the next digit (1) from the dividend, add it to 1, then carry on: 11 / 3

Step 6:
3 goes into 11 3 times with a remainder of 2.
Record the quotient 3 as the next digit in the result. 
Result so far: 290843.0
If we subtract 9 from 11, we get 2.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 20, and continue the process.

Let's proceed to step 7:
If we divide 20 by 3, we get 6 and a remainder of 2.
Write down 6 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 290843.6
The remainder is 2 after subtracting 18 from 20.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 20, and continue the process.

On to step 8:
The number 3 fits into 20 6 times, leaving a remainder of 2.
Write down 6 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 290843.66
If we subtract 18 from 20, we get 2.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 20, and continue the process.

The final outcome is 290843.66, with a leftover of 0.002.