Last updated: February 2026

UK National Curriculum: KS2/KS3 Maths

Quotient & Remainder Calculator

Calculate the quotient and remainder when dividing two numbers. Perfect for checking homework, learning long division, and understanding how division works.

Dividend (number being divided)
÷
Divisor (number dividing by)

Quick Example

17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2
5 goes into 17 three whole times (5 × 3 = 15), with 2 left over.

Division Terminology

Understanding the parts of a division problem is essential for maths success:

Dividend
The number being divided
In 17 ÷ 5, dividend is 17
Divisor
The number you divide by
In 17 ÷ 5, divisor is 5
Quotient
The whole number result
In 17 ÷ 5 = 3 R 2, quotient is 3
Remainder
What's left over after division
In 17 ÷ 5 = 3 R 2, remainder is 2

Memory Trick

Dad, Mum, Sister, Brother = Dividend ÷ Divisor = Quotient remainder Remainder

The Division Formula

Every division can be written using this formula:

Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder
17 = (5 × 3) + 2 = 15 + 2 = 17

This formula is your verification tool - use it to check if your division answer is correct!

Example Verification

Division Answer Verification Check
23 ÷ 4 5 R 3 (4 × 5) + 3 = 20 + 3 = 23
50 ÷ 7 7 R 1 (7 × 7) + 1 = 49 + 1 = 50
100 ÷ 8 12 R 4 (8 × 12) + 4 = 96 + 4 = 100
45 ÷ 9 5 R 0 (9 × 5) + 0 = 45 + 0 = 45 (exact)

Division Rules & Properties

Dividing by 1

Any number divided by 1 equals itself.

25 ÷ 1 = 25
100 ÷ 1 = 100

0⃣ Zero Dividend

Zero divided by any number (except 0) equals zero.

0 ÷ 5 = 0
0 ÷ 100 = 0

Division by Zero

You cannot divide by zero. It's undefined in mathematics.

5 ÷ 0 = undefined
Any ÷ 0 = error

Same Number

Any non-zero number divided by itself equals 1.

7 ÷ 7 = 1
256 ÷ 256 = 1

Remainder Rule

The remainder is always less than the divisor.

17 ÷ 5 = 3 R 2
Remainder 2 < Divisor 5

Exact Division

If remainder is 0, the dividend is divisible by the divisor.

20 ÷ 5 = 4 R 0
20 is divisible by 5

Why Can't We Divide by Zero?

If 6 ÷ 0 = x, then 0 × x should equal 6. But 0 times any number is always 0, never 6. Since no value of x works, division by zero is undefined. This is why calculators show "Error" when you try it!

Divisibility Tests

Quick ways to check if a number divides evenly (remainder = 0):

Divisible by Test Example
2 Last digit is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) 124 → last digit 4 divisible by 2
3 Sum of digits divisible by 3 123 → 1+2+3=6 divisible by 3
4 Last two digits divisible by 4 316 → 16÷4=4 divisible by 4
5 Last digit is 0 or 5 275 → last digit 5 divisible by 5
6 Divisible by both 2 AND 3 126 → even, 1+2+6=9 divisible by 6
9 Sum of digits divisible by 9 729 → 7+2+9=18 divisible by 9
10 Last digit is 0 450 → last digit 0 divisible by 10

Practice Problems

Click each card to reveal the answer. Try to solve them first!

Easy (KS2 Level)

20 ÷ 3
Click to reveal
6 R 2
25 ÷ 4
Click to reveal
6 R 1
37 ÷ 5
Click to reveal
7 R 2
48 ÷ 7
Click to reveal
6 R 6

Medium (KS3 Level)

156 ÷ 12
Click to reveal
13 R 0
200 ÷ 7
Click to reveal
28 R 4
345 ÷ 11
Click to reveal
31 R 4
1000 ÷ 13
Click to reveal
76 R 12

Real-World Uses of Division with Remainders

Sharing Equally

23 sweets shared among 5 friends: each gets 4 sweets, with 3 left over.

23 ÷ 5 = 4 R 3
4 each, 3 remaining

Days & Weeks

What day will it be in 17 days if today is Monday?

17 ÷ 7 = 2 R 3
3 days after Monday = Thursday

Packaging

Packing 50 items into boxes of 8:

50 ÷ 8 = 6 R 2
6 full boxes + 2 extras

Time Conversion

How many hours and minutes in 185 minutes?

185 ÷ 60 = 3 R 5
3 hours 5 minutes

Money Sharing

Splitting £100 bill among 3 people:

100 ÷ 3 = 33 R 1
£33 each, £1 left

Transport Planning

47 students need minibuses (12 seats each):

47 ÷ 12 = 3 R 11
Need 4 minibuses (3 full + 1 partial)

UK National Curriculum: Division

Year Age Division Skills
Year 2 6-7 Division as sharing equally. Division facts for 2, 5, 10 times tables.
Year 3 7-8 Divide 2-digit by 1-digit numbers. Introduction to remainders.
Year 4 8-9 Divide up to 3-digit by 1-digit using short division. Express remainders.
Year 5 9-10 Divide 4-digit by 1-digit. Interpret remainders appropriately.
Year 6 10-11 Divide 4-digit by 2-digit using long division. Decimals and remainders.
KS3 11-14 Fluent division of integers. Link to fractions and ratios.

SATs Tip

In Year 6 SATs, you'll often need to interpret remainders in context. For example: "32 children need to travel by car. Each car holds 5 children. How many cars are needed?" Answer: 32 ÷ 5 = 6 R 2, so 7 cars are needed (you must round UP when you need to include everyone).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a quotient in division? +

The quotient is the result of dividing one number (dividend) by another (divisor). It represents how many whole times the divisor fits into the dividend. For example, in 17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2, the quotient is 3. The word "quotient" comes from Latin "quotiens" meaning "how many times."

What is the difference between quotient and remainder? +

Quotient: The whole number result of division - how many complete times the divisor fits into the dividend.
Remainder: What's left over after taking out as many complete groups as possible.

In 17 ÷ 5 = 3 R 2: The quotient is 3 (five fits into 17 three complete times, giving 15) and the remainder is 2 (17 - 15 = 2 left over).

How do you check if a division answer is correct? +

Use the verification formula: (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder = Dividend

Example: Check 17 ÷ 5 = 3 R 2
(5 × 3) + 2 = 15 + 2 = 17

If the result equals your original dividend, your answer is correct!

Why can't you divide by zero? +

Division by zero is undefined because no number multiplied by zero can give you a non-zero result. Think about it: if 6 ÷ 0 = x, then 0 × x should equal 6. But 0 times any number is always 0, never 6. Since no value of x works, division by zero has no answer - it's "undefined" in mathematics. This is why calculators show an error.

What year do UK students learn division with remainders? +

In the UK National Curriculum, children are introduced to division with remainders in Year 3 (ages 7-8) and develop fluency through Year 4. By Year 5-6, they should confidently divide multi-digit numbers by 2-digit divisors with remainders. The concept is tested in Year 6 SATs and continues to be important throughout secondary school.

Can the remainder be larger than the divisor? +

No! The remainder must always be smaller than the divisor. If the remainder equals or exceeds the divisor, it means the quotient should be larger. For example, if you calculate 17 ÷ 5 and get 2 R 7, that's wrong because 7 ≥ 5. The correct answer is 3 R 2 (remainder 2 < divisor 5).

How do I convert a remainder to a decimal? +

Divide the remainder by the divisor and add it to the quotient.

Example: 17 ÷ 5 = 3 R 2
Decimal: 3 + (2 ÷ 5) = 3 + 0.4 = 3.4

Or simply: 17 ÷ 5 = 3.4 directly using a calculator.

UC

Reviewed by: UK Calculator, Founder & Developer

Founder & Developer - UKCalculator.com

The UK Calculator team is the founder and developer of UKCalculator.com, providing free, accurate calculators for UK residents.

Last updated: February 2026 | Aligned with UK National Curriculum for Mathematics

Expert Reviewed — This calculator is reviewed by our team of financial experts and updated regularly with the latest UK tax rates and regulations. Last verified: February 2026.

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