NCERT Solutions for Class 5th Maths Chapter 9 Find the missing numbers, and the 3-digit number riddle — Let Us Do

Book page 131 Updated on2026-09-19

Q1.
1. Find the missing numbers such that there is no remainder. Remember, there could be more than one solution. The ten puzzles are: 4)480(□□0 ; 3)906(□0□ ; 20)400(□0 ; 50)100□(□0 ; □)8□8(21□ ; 3)□36(3□□ ; □)88(□□ ; □)9□0(□□□ ; □)180(□□□ ; □)6,480(□□□
Answer
PuzzleFilled inHow to find itOther answers
4) 480 ( □ □ 04) 480 ( 1 2 0480 ÷ 4 = 120only one
3) 906 ( □ 0 □3) 906 ( 3 0 2906 ÷ 3 = 302only one
20) 400 ( □ 020) 400 ( 2 0400 ÷ 20 = 20only one
50) 100 □ ( □ 050) 1000 ( 2 050 × 20 = 1000, so the missing digit is 0only one
□) 8 □ 8 ( 2 1 □4) 848 ( 2 1 24 × 212 = 8484) 868 ( 2 1 7
3) □ 3 6 ( 3 □ □3) 936 ( 3 1 23 × 312 = 936only one
□) 8 8 ( □ □4) 88 ( 2 24 × 22 = 882) 88 ( 4 4  and  8) 88 ( 1 1
□) 9 □ 0 ( □ □ □3) 900 ( 3 0 03 × 300 = 9002) 900 ( 4 5 0,  5) 900 ( 1 8 0,  4) 920 ( 2 3 0 …
□) 1 8 0 ( □ □ □1) 180 ( 1 8 0only a divisor of 1 keeps the quotient 3-digitonly one
□) 6,4 8 0 ( □ □ □8) 6480 ( 8 1 08 × 810 = 64809) 6480 ( 7 2 0

How to attack a puzzle like this — the method.

  1. Count the boxes in the quotient. That tells you how many digits the answer must have.
  2. Use any digit already printed. In 3) □36 ( 3□□, the quotient starts with 3 and the dividend ends in 36. Since 3 × 3 hundreds = 9 hundreds, the dividend must start with 9.
  3. Multiply back to test. 3 × 312 = 936 ✓ — the printed digits all match, so it is right.

One shown in full — □) 8 □ 8 ( 2 1 □:

The quotient is between 210 and 219
The dividend starts with 8 and ends with 8
Try divisor 4:  4 × 212 = 848 ✓ (8 _ 8 with the middle digit 4)
Also  4 × 217 = 868 ✓ (8 _ 8 with the middle digit 6)
No other divisor works
About □) 180 ( □□□: the quotient must have 3 digits. 180 ÷ 2 = 90 has only 2 digits, and every larger divisor gives an even smaller answer. So the divisor has to be 1, giving 180 ÷ 1 = 180.
Q2.
I am a 3-digit number. If you divide me by 5, you get 42. If you multiply me by 2, you get 420. What number am I?
Answer

The number is 210.

Use each clue on its own, then see that both give the same answer.

Clue 1 — divide me by 5 and you get 42.

Number ÷ 5 = 42
So Number = 5 × 42
5 × 42 = 5 × 40 + 5 × 2
= 200 + 10
= 210

Clue 2 — multiply me by 2 and you get 420.

Number × 2 = 420
So Number = 420 ÷ 2
= 210

Both clues point to the same number, and 210 has three digits. So the answer is 210.

Why the two clues agree: Undo whatever was done. If the number was divided by 5, multiply by 5 to get it back. If it was multiplied by 2, divide by 2 to get it back. Multiplication and division undo each other.
Check both clues on 210: 210 ÷ 5 = 42 ✓  and  210 × 2 = 420 ✓  And 210 is a 3-digit number ✓
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