Dividing and handling money

If the dairy makes 7,500 litres of milk and packs it into 1-litre packets, how many packets? If a milk packet costs ₹52 and the customer pays ₹500, how much change? These are everyday questions of every dairy worker.

What is this?

We use long division to split a big number into equal groups. The steps are:

1. Divide , see how many times the divisor goes into the first digit (or first two digits) of the dividend.
2. Multiply the divisor by the quotient digit and write below.
3. Subtract to find the difference.
4. Bring down the next digit and repeat.

For example, 7,500 ÷ 12:

• 12 × 6 = 72. Write 6 in the hundreds place. Subtract from 75 → 3.
• Bring down 0. 30 ÷ 12: 12 × 2 = 24. Write 2. Subtract → 6.
• Bring down 0. 60 ÷ 12 = 5. Write 5. Subtract → 0.
• Answer: 625.

So 7,500 litres makes 625 packets of 12 litres each (if that were the size). If we use 1-litre packets, we get 7,500 packets (just divide by 1).

When dealing with money, we keep rupees and paise separate. ₹52 means 52 rupees, 0 paise. Change from ₹500 = ₹500 − ₹52 = ₹448.

For multiple items: 3 packets at ₹52 each = ₹156. Pay ₹200 → change ₹44.

Always check by adding back: ₹448 + ₹52 = ₹500. Correct!

Worked examples

Example 1. 8,640 litres of milk packed in 24-litre cans. How many cans?

• 8,640 ÷ 24.
• 24 × 3 = 72; 24 × 30 = 720. Try 24 × 300 = 7,200. Remainder = 1,440.
• 24 × 60 = 1,440. So 300 + 60 = 360 cans.

Example 2. Mira buys 5 packets of milk at ₹48 each. She pays with ₹250. Change?

• Cost = 5 × 48 = ₹240.
• Change = 250 − 240 = ₹10.

Example 3. A farmer earns ₹1,200 per day. How much in a 30-day month?

• 1,200 × 30 = ₹36,000.

Try it

1. 4,500 ÷ 15.
2. 9,720 ÷ 18.
3. Mahesh buys 4 chocolates at ₹35 each. Pays ₹200. Change?
4. A school spends ₹2,400 on books. If each book costs ₹120, how many books?
5. A dairy sells 850 litres a day at ₹56 per litre. Earning per day?

Hands-on

Shop bill maths. Next time you visit a shop, look at the bill. Pick three items. Multiply quantity × rate for each. Add the totals. Does it match the bill?

Pocket-money plan. If you get ₹50 a week, how much in a year (52 weeks)? Multiply and check using division.