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The remainder that costs you a whole coach

Division and remainders

A division-with-remainder problem about coach seating, where rounding the wrong way gives the wrong answer.

Challenge level
Exam standard
01
Have a go first

The Question

312 children are going on a trip. Each coach seats 45. How many coaches are needed, and how many empty seats will there be?

02
Then check together

The Answer

Reveal the Answer
7 coaches, 3 empty seats

312 ÷ 45 = 6 remainder 42. Six coaches leave 42 children behind, so 7 are needed. 7 × 45 = 315 seats for 312 children, so 3 are empty. The trap is answering 6, or 6.9 — a remainder in a real-world question usually means round UP.

Now watch the solution

The remainder that costs you a whole coach
Singapore Maths Academy
video cover image
Pencil and paper

Practice Sheet + Marked Answers

The four-question practice sheet, the solutions in our teaching voice and a self-marking quiz for this question are part of The Question Desk course — every school day of the term, with progress you can see. Enrolled group students get it included.

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