Using Bills and Coins Together

When you buy something, you often need to use bills and coins together. For example, the price of an item might be $1.25. Notice that there is a dot between the 1 and the 25. This dot is called a decimal point. The decimal point separates the dollars and cents--the number to the left of the decimal point is the number of dollars, and the number to the right is the number of cents. So if something costs $1.25, you would say "one dollar and twenty-five cents."

There are always two numbers to the right of the decimal point. If something costs two dollars and five cents, you would write it as $2.05. This is different than $2.50, which is two dollars and fifty cents. If the amount is two dollars and no cents, you write it as $2.00 and just say "two dollars". You don't need to say "no cents."

You can have any number to the left of the decimal point. If something costs 19 dollars and 95 cents, you would write $19.95. For an item that costs 137 dollars and 89 cents, you would write $137.89.

If something costs less than one dollar, you can write the amount as either $0.59 or 59¢. You say either one as "fifty-nine cents". If something costs more than one dollar, you always use a decimal point. For example, if something costs one dollar and fifty-nine cents, you would write $1.59 and not 159¢.

What happens when you add one cent to 99¢?

99¢ + 1¢ = 100¢

As you have already learned, 100¢ is the same as $1.00, so

99¢ + 1¢ = $1.00

What happens when you add one cent to $2.99? This is the same as $2.00 + $0.99 or $2.00 + 99¢. Now let's add one cent. You have

$2.00 + 99¢ + 1¢ = $2.00 + $1.00 = $3.00

Making Change

When you buy an item, you may not have the exact change to pay for it. You give the cashier more than the price of the item and the cashier gives you back some change, which is the difference between the amount of money you give and the cost of the item. For example, you pay for an item that costs 75¢ with a dollar bill. The cashier gives you back the difference between $1.00 and 75¢, which is 25¢.

Suppose you are the cashier and are selling an item that costs $3.50. The buyer hands you a five-dollar bill. You have to subtract $3.50 from $5.00 to figure out that the change should be $1.50. An easier way to calculate the change is to count up from the price to the amount paid. For example, as you hand the buyer the first 25¢, you say "$3.75". As you give the second 25¢, you say "$4.00". Then you give back a one-dollar bill and say "$5.00". The one-dollar bill and two quarters add up to $1.50, which is the amount of the change that you give to the buyer.

Learn about American Bills

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How to Use the Money Program

Last updated: Monday, 25-Aug-2003 21:57:07 GMT

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