Making change

A toy in the shop costs $7</strong>.Youhandovera<strong>$10 note.

The cashier gives something back. The question: how much?

When you pay more than the item costs, you get the difference back. This is called change (or "money back").

The trick: count up

The easiest way is to count from the price up to the amount you paid.

Example: the toy costs $7</strong>,youpaywith<strong>$10.

$7\to$8 → $9\to$10

That is 3 steps of $1</strong>,so<strong>$3.

You get $3 back.

Example with cents

Price: $3.50</strong>.Youpay<strong>$5.

Counting up:

• $3.50\to$4 (we need 50¢)
• $4\to$5 (another $1)

Together: $1.50.

Another example

Price: $2.80</strong>.Youpay<strong>$5.

• $2.80\to$3 (we are missing 20¢)
• $3\to$5 (another $2)

Change: $2.20.

Check: count back

Always check: price + change = amount you paid.

• $7+$3 = $10 ✓
• $3.50+$1.50 = $5 ✓
• $2.80+$2.20 = $5 ✓

Summary

• Change = the money you get back when you pay more than the item costs.
• Count up from the price to the amount you paid.
• First fill the cents to a round number, then fill the dollars.
• Check: price + change = amount paid.