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Word problems
Lesson 9 of 10

Remainders in context

Objective. Interpret a remainder by rounding up, down or reporting it.

The key idea

The context decides. Seats needed for people rounds up; full boxes packed rounds down; a sharing question may leave a genuine remainder.

Worked example

53 children travel in minibuses that seat 8. How many minibuses?

53 … 8
Illustrated card showing 53 … 8
  1. 153 ÷ 8 = 6 remainder 5.
  2. 2The last 5 children still need a bus, so round up.

Answer: 7 minibuses

Practice

Each question comes with a picture and a listen button. Try it first, then reveal the answer.

Common mistake. Always rounding down because the calculator shows a decimal.

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