Money word problems

Money problems are everyday situations. They mix what you already know — adding, subtracting, multiplying — but in dollars and cents.

Pattern 1 — total cost

I bought 3 ice creams for $1.50 each. How much altogether?

• Equal items → multiply.
• 3 × $1.50=<strong>$4.50.

Pattern 2 — change

A book costs $7.Ipaidwitha$10 bill. How much change?

• Paid − price → subtract.
• 10 − 7 = $3.

Pattern 3 — saving

I save $2 every week. How much in 5 weeks?

• Same amount each week → multiply.
• 2 × 5 = $10.

Pattern 4 — comparison

Anna has $12.Peterhas$8. How much more does Anna have?

• "How much more" → subtract.
• 12 − 8 = $4.

Pattern 5 — multi-step

I have $20.Iboughtanotebookfor$4.50 and a pen for $2. How much is left?

Step 1 — total spent:

$4.50+$2 = $6.50.

Step 2 — what's left:

$20-$6.50 = $13.50.

Watch out

• Always convert to the same unit before adding (cents and dollars are different units).
• Always end with the unit in the answer ("$13.50", not "13.50").

Try it

• 📖 Money word problems

Summary

• Read carefully, decide the operation, compute.
• Equal items → multiply. Difference → subtract.
• Multi-step problems often appear with money — write each step.

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