A method and apparatus to optimize each of the plurality of reduction stages in a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) circuit to produce a residue for a block of data decreases area used to perform the reduction while maintaining the same delay through the plurality of stages of the reduction logic. A hybrid mix of Karatsuba algorithm, classical multiplications and serial division in various stages in the CRC reduction circuit results in about a twenty percent reduction in area on the average with no decrease in critical path delay.