Headline Story
Developing a Division Algorithm, #4
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Introduction
Read the Headline Story to the students. Encourage them to think of creative ways to approach the problem. Note that although students do not yet have a formal procedure for finding a solution, they can make estimates and approach the problem in non-standard ways.
Headline Story
Mr. Wong has between 300 and 1,000 small prizes to divide evenly among his 19 students. He will give away as many prizes as possible. What is the greatest number of prizes that could be left over? Is it possible for each student to get 60 prizes?
Possible student responses
- 18 prizes because if 19 or more were left over, each student would get another prize.
- Since 19 is less than but close to 20, and 20 X 60 = 1,200, each student could not receive 60 prizes.
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