- Definition
When you divide things into equal groups and there are some left over that can't make another full group, those leftovers are called the remainder. For example, if you share 11 cookies among 4 kids, each kid gets 2 cookies, and there are 3 cookies left over – that's the remainder.
If you share 7 stickers among 3 friends, each friend gets 2 stickers and there is 1 left over as the remainder.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A remainder is like the leftover cookies you have after sharing them equally with your friends.
Ask your child: If we share these 5 blocks, what's left over?
Common mix-up: Kids may think division must always come out perfectly. A remainder simply shows the leftovers when you can't share everything into equal whole groups.
Examples
- Sharing 5 cookies between 2 people means each gets 2, with 1 remainder.
- Putting 10 toys into 3 boxes means 3 toys go in each box, with a remainder of 1 toy.
remainder is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
