Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
In mathematics and computer programming, the remainder refers to the amount left over after performing integer division between two numbers. It represents what remains when one quantity cannot be evenly divided by another.
Related terms
Integer Division: A division operation that returns only the quotient and discards the remainder.
Modulus Operator (%): The operator used to calculate the remainder in programming languages like Java or Python.
Floating-point Division: A division operation that includes decimal places in the result, allowing for non-whole number quotients.