REMAINDER(n1, n2) identifies the multiple of n2 that is nearest to n1,
and returns the difference between those two values.
This Oracle tutorial explains how to use the Oracle/PLSQL REMAINDER function.
The Oracle/PLSQL REMAINDER function returns the remainder of m divided by n.
The syntax for the Oracle/PLSQL REMAINDER function is:
REMAINDER( m, n )
The REMAINDER is calculated as:
m - (n * X) where X is the integer nearest m / n
SQL> SELECT REMAINDER(9,3), REMAINDER(10,3), REMAINDER(11,3) FROM DUAL;
REMAINDER(9,3) REMAINDER(10,3) REMAINDER(11,3)
-------------- --------------- ---------------
0 1 -1
SQL>
REMAINDER(11,3) doesn't return a 2. Instead, it returns a -1, because the nearest integer that's divisible by 3 is 12, which is closer to the 11 than the 9. REMAINDER identifies the closest multiple of n2. If the multiple is higher, REMAINDER returns a negative number to indicate that the closest multiple of n2 is higher than n1.