Money: Counting Coins and Change
A practical primary math lesson on money: learn coin values, add coins to make amounts, and work out change with clear worked examples and a fun quiz.
Key takeaways
- Each coin has its own value, like 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents
- To find a total, add up the value of every coin
- Change is what you get back: the amount paid minus the price
Coins have values
Money comes in coins, and each coin is worth a different amount. Here are common coins:
| Coin | Value |
|---|---|
| Penny | 1 cent |
| Nickel | 5 cents |
| Dime | 10 cents |
| Quarter | 25 cents |
| Half dollar | 50 cents |
It is the value that matters, not the size. A dime is small but worth more than a bigger nickel!
Adding coins together
To find how much money you have, add up every coin.
Say you have a quarter, a dime, and a nickel:
- Quarter = 25 cents
- Dime = 10 cents → 25 + 10 = 35
- Nickel = 5 cents → 35 + 5 = 40 cents
It helps to start with the biggest coin and add the smaller ones.
Making an amount
Sometimes you need to make an exact amount. There can be more than one way!
Make 30 cents:
- A quarter and a nickel: 25 + 5 = 30
- Three dimes: 10 + 10 + 10 = 30
- Six nickels: 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 30
All three ways make 30 cents.
Working out change
Change is the money you get back when you pay more than the price.
Change = amount you pay − price
Worked example: A pencil costs 30 cents. You pay with a 50-cent coin.
- Price = 30 cents
- You pay = 50 cents
- Change = 50 − 30 = 20 cents
You get 20 cents back.
Try it yourself
Set up a pretend shop at home.
- Price small toys at 10, 25, and 40 cents.
- Pay with coins and count the change.
- Find two ways to make 50 cents.
Great job!
You can count coins and find change now. That is real-world math!
When you are ready, sharpen your subtracting in Addition and Subtraction Made Easy, or learn how digits work in Place Value: Tens and Ones.
Quick quiz
Test yourself and earn XP
How much is two 10-cent coins together?
10 + 10 = 20 cents.
You have a 25-cent coin and a 5-cent coin. What is the total?
25 + 5 = 30 cents.
A toy costs 40 cents. You pay with 50 cents. How much change?
Change = 50 − 40 = 10 cents.
Which coins make exactly 35 cents?
25 + 10 = 35 cents. The other pairs make 30 and 20.
FAQ
Counting coins and working out change builds real-life math skills and gives children confidence with adding and subtracting.
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