Giving Change
Add and subtract amounts of money to give change, using both £ and p in practical contexts
What a learner can do afterwards
- Calculate the total cost of two or three items priced in pounds and pence
- Work out the change from £5 or £10
- Record money calculations using £ and p notation correctly (e.g. £3.47)
The lesson
You already know how to add and subtract money written with £ and p. Giving change uses those same skills in a real shop. First, add up the price of everything you are buying. Then subtract that total from the money you hand over. Whatever is left over is your change.
Tom buys a toy car for £2.40 and a comic for £1.10. Add the prices: £2.40 + £1.10 = £3.50. Tom pays with a £5 note, so £5.00 - £3.50 = £1.50. Tom gets £1.50 change.
Priya buys a notebook for £2.30, a sticker pack for £0.45, and an eraser for £0.90. Add all three: £2.30 + £0.45 + £0.90 = £3.65. She pays with a £10 note. £10.00 - £3.65 = £6.35. Priya gets £6.35 change.
Check your change by adding it back to what you paid for the item. You should get back exactly the money you handed over. If the numbers do not match, add again carefully.
Add up the cost, subtract it from the money you give, and what is left is the change.
Watch it
Where it sits
This opens up
Where this leads
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.