MM.2 Count the correct amount of change
What is making change?
Making change means figuring out how much money to give back when someone pays more than an item costs. This is an important skill for everyday shopping.
- If a pencil costs 35¢ and you pay with 50¢, you should get 15¢ back.
- The change is the difference between what you paid and what the item costs.
Always count up from the item's price to the amount paid to find the correct change.
Understanding american coins
To count change correctly, you need to know the value of each American coin and how they relate to dollars.
- Penny = 1 cent (1¢)
- Nickel = 5 cents (5¢)
- Dime = 10 cents (10¢)
- Quarter = 25 cents (25¢)
- 100 cents = 1 dollar ($1.00)
- 4 quarters = 1 dollar
- 10 dimes = 1 dollar
- 20 nickels = 1 dollar
Remember: dimes are smaller than nickels but worth more! Size doesn't determine value.
The counting up method
The counting up method is the most reliable way to make correct change. Start with the price of the item and add coins until you reach the amount paid.
Item price: 68¢ | Amount paid: $1.00 (100¢)
- Start at 68¢ (price)
- Add 2¢ to make 70¢ (2 pennies)
- Add 5¢ to make 75¢ (1 nickel)
- Add 25¢ to make 100¢ (1 quarter)
- Total change: 2¢ + 5¢ + 25¢ = 32¢
When counting up, try to use the fewest coins possible. Start with the largest coins that won't go over the amount paid.
Using dollars and cents together
Many purchases involve both dollars and cents. Remember to convert dollars to cents (multiply by 100) to make counting easier.
Item price: $2.45 | Amount paid: $5.00
- Convert to cents: $2.45 = 245¢, $5.00 = 500¢
- Subtract: 500¢ - 245¢ = 255¢ change needed
- Count up from 245¢ to 500¢:
- 245¢ + 5¢ = 250¢ (1 nickel)
- 250¢ + 50¢ = 300¢ (2 quarters)
- 300¢ + 200¢ = 500¢ (2 dollar coins or bills)
- Total change: 5¢ + 50¢ + 200¢ = 255¢ or $2.55
Always write dollar amounts with a decimal point: $3.75 means 3 dollars and 75 cents, not 375 dollars!
Checking Your Work
Always verify your change by adding it to the item price. The total should equal the amount the customer paid.
Item: $1.25 | Paid: $2.00 | Change given: 75¢
- Check: $1.25 + $0.75 = $2.00 ✓
- This confirms the change is correct.
- Item: 80¢ | Paid: $1.00 | Change: 1 dime and 1 nickel
- Check: 80¢ + 10¢ + 5¢ = 95¢ ✗ (This is wrong! Should be 20¢)
Double-checking prevents mistakes. If your change plus the price doesn't equal what was paid, recount carefully.
Real world practice tips
Use these strategies to become confident with making change in everyday situations.
- Practice with real or play money at home
- When shopping, mentally calculate what change you should receive
- Start with simple amounts (like $1.00 - 60¢) before trying harder problems
- Remember that quarters are especially helpful for making change quickly
With practice, counting change will become automatic. This is a valuable skill you'll use throughout your life!