What is a Remainder?
In the real world, things don't always divide perfectly. If you have 7 cookies and 3 friends, everyone gets 2 cookies, but there is 1 cookie left over. In math, we call this the Remainder.
The Remainder Strategy
When you divide, find the closest multiple without going over. The difference between that multiple and your starting number is your remainder.
| Example | Step-by-Step (LaTeX) |
|---|---|
| $17 \div 5$ | $5 \times 3 = 15$ (Closest to 17) $17 - 15 = 2$ Answer: $3 \text{ r } 2$ |
| The Golden Rule | The remainder must be smaller than the divisor. If you divide by $4$, your remainder can only be $0, 1, 2,$ or $3$. |
Solve for Quotient and Remainder:
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r
Tip: If there is no remainder, enter 0.
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Remainder Master!
You can now account for every single piece in a division problem. No leftover is too small for you!