Making change
If the price of an item is 3.50 € and you pay with 5 €, you should get back the difference. That's making change.
Change = paid − price.
Example 1
Price: 3.50 €. Paid: 5 €.
Change: 5 − 3.50 = 1.50 €.
Example 2 — counting up
A clerk's trick is to count up from the price to the paid amount — that's the change.
Price: 3.50 €. Paid: 5 €.
3.50 → 3.60 (+10 c) → 3.70 (+10 c) → 3.80 (+10 c) → 3.90 (+10 c) → 4.00 (+10 c) → 4.50 (+50 c) → 5.00 (+50 c).
Total added: 50 c + 50 c + 50 c = 1.50 €.
Both methods give the same change — pick the one easier for you.
Smart change
Try to give the change in the fewest coins/bills:
1.50 € = 1 × 1 € + 1 × 50 c (two coins).
Don't give: 1.50 € = 6 × 25 c (silly!).
Try it
Summary
- Change = paid − price.
- Count up from price to paid amount.
- Give the fewest coins.