Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trialCanbin Mei
Courses Plus Student 334 PointsHow is 3 % 7 = 3?
I don't understand how 3/7 has a remainder 3
3 Answers
Nejc Vukovic
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 51,574 PointsHi Canbin,
It's because 3 / 7 = 0 ---> therefore 3 remains.
William Li
Courses Plus Student 26,868 PointsWe are talking about integer division here.
3 / 7 = 0 with 3 as remainder, it makes sense.
Canbin Mei
Courses Plus Student 334 PointsI see it now, thank you so much!
Jonathan Söder
7,428 PointsI just recently learned about this myself so here goes: Integers whole numbers, like 4, 14, 123, 38, 120391023812. It can also deal with negative numbers in some languages (or all?) like -4, -14, -123, -38, -120391023812. Modulus is the remainder. So whatever remains of the division is the answer, not the result of the division itself.
I've read there are some functions in some languages for usage with doubles (like 3.5 % 2 = 1.5)
Basically if I got this right,
3 % 7 = 3
3 % 7 = 0 with remainder of 3.
3/7 = ~0,428571..... but we're content with saying 0 like above since it's integer division. You can think of it this way: 7 can't fit into 3 in any way and give us a whole number other than 0. So the remainder is 3.
If we turn it around:
7 % 3 = 1
7 / 3 = 2 with a remainder of 1.
This time, 3 can fit into 7 two times and 2 is an integer. Remainder is 1.
Another example:
2 % 4 = 2
2 % 4 = 0 with remainder of 2.
2 / 4 = 0.5. 4 can't fit into 2 and give us an integer other than 0. So the remainder is 2.
If we turn it around:
4%2 = 0
4/2 = 2 with a remainder of 0.
This time, 2 fits in 4 two times and 2 is an integer but there is no remainder. So the answer is 0.
3%7 = 3
4%7 = 4
5%7 = 5
6%7 = 6
7%7 = 0
8%7 = 1
9%7 = 2
etc
Canbin Mei
Courses Plus Student 334 PointsI know why 3 is the remainder now,thank you
Rob Pelgrum
5,854 PointsThank you for this. Now i understand the remainder
Tony Cheung
512 PointsThank you !
Canbin Mei
Courses Plus Student 334 PointsCanbin Mei
Courses Plus Student 334 PointsGot it, thank you so much!