Division: sharing, grouping and remainders · Usually met around P2
Remainders: round up or drop
At most: drop it. At least: round up.
How to do it
Method
At most: drop it. At least: round up
23 people, 5 a car: 4 r 3 → 5 cars
Another way
Check it's enough
4 × 5 = 20 too few, 5 × 5 = 25 enough
In full
When there is a remainder, look at what the question asks. “At most how many can you buy or make?”: the leftover is not enough for one more, so drop it: $23, pens at $5, 23 ÷ 5 = 4 r 3, at most 4 pens. “At least how many are needed” to hold or carry everything: the leftover needs one more, so round up: 23 people, 5 to a car, 23 ÷ 5 = 4 r 3, at least 4 + 1 = 5 cars. Or check: 4 cars seat only 20, not enough; 5 seat 25, enough.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
55 people need a ride, and a car takes at most 6. At least how many cars are needed to take everyone?
Show the answer and working
Answer: 10 cars
55 ÷ 6 = 9 r 1: the 1 left need a car too, so round up: 10.
Example 2
19 ÷ 7 = 2 r 5. Which question has the answer 3?
- A. 19 eggs, 7 to a box: at least how many boxes?
- B. $19, books at $7: at most how many books?
- C. 19 sweets, 7 to a bag: how many are left over?
- D. 19 cm of ribbon, 7 cm a bow: at most how many bows?
Choose the right answer
Show the answer and working
Answer: A. 19 eggs, 7 to a box: at least how many boxes?
“At least how many boxes” must hold the 5 left over too, so round up: 3.
Example 3
18 dumplings go in boxes of 8. At most □ boxes can be filled; to pack them all takes at least □ boxes.
Fill in each box
Show the answer and working
Answer: 2，3
18 ÷ 8 = 2 r 2: 2 full boxes (drop it); the 2 left need a box too, 3 in all (round up).
Practise it in the game →Division: sharing, grouping and remainders · Free to start, unlimited questions, no download