What the leftover means
The question
28 eggs come in from the hens. Each box holds 6.
How many boxes are needed to pack them all?
The division is not the answer
altogether:28· each:6
6×4=24
28−24=4
whole ones:4· left over:4
5
- 28 altogether, 6 at a time.
- Divide first. 6 goes into 28 4 times: 6 × 4 = 24, and 28 − 24 = 4 over.
- Now read the question again. It asks how many containers are NEEDED — 4 and 4 answer different questions.
- The 4 left over still have to go somewhere, and there is nowhere left, so one more is wanted: 4 + 1.
How it works.
- 01
28 altogether, 6 at a time.
- 02
Divide first. 6 goes into 28 4 times: 6 × 4 = 24, and 28 − 24 = 4 over.
- 03
Now read the question again. It asks how many containers are NEEDED — 4 and 4 answer different questions.
- 04
The 4 left over still have to go somewhere, and there is nowhere left, so one more is wanted: 4 + 1.