Let’s solve each of the three division word problems step by step.
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Problem 1:
> Sofia purchased a total of 74 balloons for the party. If she plans on keeping balloons together in sets of 3 and she wants to blow up as many balloons as possible, how many balloons will she not have to blow up?
This is asking:
How many balloons are left over (remainder) when 74 is divided into groups of 3?
We do:
74 ÷ 3
- 3 × 24 = 72
- 74 – 72 =
2
✔ So, Sofia can make 24 full sets of 3 balloons, and
2 balloons will be left over — these are the ones she does *not* have to blow up (since she only wants complete sets).
Answer: 2 balloons
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Problem 2:
> Tukker baked 99 spooky cupcakes and placed them on black trays in the living room. If each tray is 8 inches wide and can hold a maximum of 7 cupcakes, how many trays can be completely filled?
Note: The “8 inches wide” is extra info — it doesn’t affect the math. What matters is that
each tray holds max 7 cupcakes, and we want to know how many trays can be
completely filled.
So, divide total cupcakes by capacity per tray:
99 ÷ 7
- 7 × 14 = 98
- 99 – 98 = 1 → so 14 full trays, and 1 leftover cupcake (which doesn’t fill a tray)
✔ So,
14 trays can be completely filled.
Answer: 14 trays
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Problem 3:
> Finally, Sofia and Tukker are ready to prepare goodie bags filled with candy to share with their guests. If they have a total of 210 pieces of candy and they want each bag to contain exactly ten pieces of candy, how many goodie bags can they make? Will there be any candy left over?
We divide total candy by candies per bag:
210 ÷ 10
- 10 × 21 = 210 → exactly!
✔ So, they can make
21 goodie bags, and
no candy will be left over.
Answers:
- Number of goodie bags:
21
- Leftover candy:
0
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✔ Final Answers:
1.
2 balloons will not have to be blown up.
2.
14 trays can be completely filled.
3. They can make
21 goodie bags, and
no candy will be left over.
Let me know if you’d like to see visual models or number lines for any of these!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of long division grade 5.
