1/15
00:00

EE. Solve word problems with coins and bills up to $20

Loading questions...

What is money in math?

Money in math is the way we use numbers to show the value of coins and bills. We use the dollar sign ($) for dollars and the cent sign (¢) for cents.

Examples:
  • 1 quarter = 25¢
  • 1 dime = 10¢
  • 1 dollar = $1.00 = 100¢
Note

Remember that 100 cents always equals 1 dollar. Coins show part of a dollar, and bills show whole dollars.

Coins and their values

Each coin has a special name and value. Knowing coin values helps you add, subtract, and make change correctly.

Coin Values:
  • Penny = 1¢
  • Nickel = 5¢
  • Dime = 10¢
  • Quarter = 25¢
  • Half dollar = 50¢
Note

Think of each coin as a part of a dollar. For example, 4 quarters = $1.00, and 10 dimes = $1.00.

Bills and their values

Bills represent dollars. You can use them alone or with coins to show amounts of money.

Bill Values:
  • $1 bill = 100¢
  • $5 bill = 500¢
  • $10 bill = 1,000¢
  • $20 bill = 2,000¢
Note

Bills are worth more than coins. Always count dollars first, then add coins for the total.

Adding and subtracting money

We add or subtract money the same way we add or subtract numbers, but we always include the dollar sign ($) or cent sign (¢).

Examples:
  • $5.00 + $2.00 = $7.00
  • 75¢ + 25¢ = $1.00
  • $10.00 − $3.50 = $6.50
Note

Always line up the decimal points when adding or subtracting dollars and cents.

Solving word problems with money

Word problems with money ask you to use coins and bills to find a total, compare costs, or find the change after buying something.

Examples:
  • Maria has 2 quarters and 3 dimes. How much money does she have?
    50¢ + 30¢ = 80¢
  • James buys a toy for $4.75 and pays with a $10 bill. How much change does he get?
    $10.00 − $4.75 = $5.25
  • A sandwich costs $6.50 and a drink costs $1.75. What is the total?
    $6.50 + $1.75 = $8.25
Note

Read carefully to decide if you need to add, subtract, or compare. Always check that your answer makes sense with the question.