---
title: "Arithmetic in Code: Integer Division and Remainder"
description: "The arithmetic a program actually offers, including whole-number division and the remainder, and the order operators are applied in."
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/arithmetic-in-code-integer-division-and-remainder-mt_ZPnPrLGPmT
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/arithmetic-in-code-integer-division-and-remainder-mt_ZPnPrLGPmT.md
retrieved: 2026-09-12
---

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# Arithmetic in Code: Integer Division and Remainder

The arithmetic a program actually offers, including whole-number division and the remainder, and the order operators are applied in.

Subject: Computing · Area: Programming · Ages 14 to 15
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/arithmetic-in-code-integer-division-and-remainder-mt_ZPnPrLGPmT

## Ready when they can

- Work out the result of an expression mixing multiplication, addition and brackets
- Use whole-number division and remainder to split a total, such as seconds into minutes and seconds
- Say which operator runs first without running the code

## Lesson: Divide, leave over, order up

Your code can add, subtract, multiply and divide like your calculator. Two extra tools split division in two: // keeps the whole part and throws the leftover away, while % keeps only the leftover. So 10 // 3 is 3, and 10 % 3 is 1.

**Example.** Turn 200 seconds into minutes and seconds the way code does. 200 // 60 is 3 whole minutes, and 200 % 60 is the 20 seconds left over. Together they rebuild the total, since 3 times 60 plus 20 is 200.

When operators mix, brackets run first, then multiply, divide, // and %, then add and subtract last. That is why 3 + 4 * 2 is 11, while 2 * (3 + 4) is 14. Say which operator runs first before you run the code.

**Tip.** Ask yourself what each piece keeps. // keeps the wholes and drops the rest, % drops the wholes and keeps the rest.

**Recap.** Brackets first, then multiply and divide, then add; // keeps wholes and % keeps the leftover.

## Practice

20 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Input, Output and Type Conversion](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/input-output-and-type-conversion-mt_lZmkGSELbC)

## Opens up

- [Boolean Expressions and Comparison Operators](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/boolean-expressions-and-comparison-operators-mt_0aIh-DPCZ4)
- [Binary Search on Sorted Data](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/binary-search-on-sorted-data-mt_3avV-VasFZ)