The idea in brief. The quotient counts complete groups; the remainder is smaller than the divisor. Multiply the quotient by the divisor and add the remainder to recover the dividend. The remainder must be smaller than the divisor. Check whether the question asks for it or for the quotient. In the lesson. Last lesson, you multiplied one place at a time and renamed into the next place. Today, we will divide one place at a time and name the quotient and remainder. The quotient is the answer to the division, and the remainder is what is left over. The remainder must be smaller than the number we divide by.
Lesson video, with the working
Divide with a remainder
5 min 50 s
The film teaches 3 questions in turn. Each question shows first; its working is written as the film explains it.
How do you solve P3 division with remainder questions?
This page teaches long division of a number of up to 3 digits by a 1-digit number, and how to name the quotient and the remainder.
What your child learns here
This page teaches long division of a number of up to 3 digits by a 1-digit number, and how to name the quotient and the remainder. It covers the MOE Primary 3 outcomes on division with remainder and on division algorithms.
Divide one place at a time, starting from the greatest place and using the times tables.
Name the quotient, the result of the division, and the remainder, what is left over.
Know that the remainder is always smaller than the number being divided by.
Write a 0 in the quotient when a place cannot be divided.
Check a division by multiplying the quotient by the divisor and adding the remainder: for 158 divided by 6, 26 times 6 is 156, and 156 plus 2 is 158.
Does the answer make sense?
A remainder must always be smaller than the number being divided by, so dividing by 6 can leave at most 5. Your child can multiply the quotient by the divisor and see that it does not go past the number that was divided.
How to practise these questions
The Basic question practises long division by a 1-digit number, starting from the hundreds. The Intermediate questions add a remainder, which your child names alongside the quotient. The Challenge questions check a division someone has already done, or find the greatest number that gives a stated quotient, so the remainder rule must be understood. When a division stalls, play its solution film with your child and return to it later from Revision.
Questions parents ask
Is division with remainder in the Primary 3 syllabus? Yes. Division with remainder is outcome 3.3 in the MOE Primary 3 syllabus, and division up to 3 digits by 1 digit is outcome 3.4. This page covers both.
What is the difference between the quotient and the remainder? The quotient is the result of the division, such as the number of complete groups. The remainder is what is left over, and it is always smaller than the divisor.
How should my child write a remainder? The worked examples on this page write the answer as the quotient, then R, then the remainder, and list the quotient and remainder on separate lines when both are asked for. Writing both parts every time keeps either from being lost.
