Monday, 30 September 2013

Why is there no "remainder" in multiplication

Why is there no "remainder" in multiplication

With division, you can have a remainder (such as $5/2=2$ remainder $1$).
Now my six year old son has asked me "Why is there no remainder with
multiplication"? The obvious answer is "because it wouldn't make sense" or
just "because". Somewhat I have the feeling that prime numbers are a bit
like the remainders as you can never reach them with multiplication.
Is there a good answer to the question? (Other than the trivial ones?)

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