Counting Money up to One Dollar

When we count money, we use different coins. To find out how much money we have, we add the values of the coins together. We use the cent symbol ($\text{¢}$) to write our total.

Meet the Coins

Before we count, let's remember the value of each coin:

• Penny: $1\text{¢}$
• Nickel: $5\text{¢}$
• Dime: $10\text{¢}$
• Quarter: $25\text{¢}$

How to Count a Group of Coins

The best way to count a pile of coins is to start with the coins that have the highest value and work your way down to the lowest.

Example: How much is 2 quarters, 1 dime, 3 nickels, and 4 pennies?

1. Start with the quarters: $25\text{¢} + 25\text{¢} = 50\text{¢}$
2. Add the dime: $50\text{¢} + 10\text{¢} = 60\text{¢}$
3. Add the nickels: Count up by fives: $65\text{¢}, 70\text{¢}, 75\text{¢}$
4. Add the pennies: Count up by ones: $76\text{¢}, 77\text{¢}, 78\text{¢}, 79\text{¢}$

The total value is $79\text{¢}$.

Different Ways to Make the Same Amount

You can use different combinations of coins to make the exact same amount of money.

Example: How many ways can you make $50\text{¢}$?

• Way 1: 2 quarters ($25\text{¢} + 25\text{¢} = 50\text{¢}$)
• Way 2: 5 dimes ($10\text{¢} + 10\text{¢} + 10\text{¢} + 10\text{¢} + 10\text{¢} = 50\text{¢}$)
• Way 3: 1 quarter, 2 dimes, and 1 nickel ($25\text{¢} + 10\text{¢} + 10\text{¢} + 5\text{¢} = 50\text{¢}$)

Do You Have Enough?

Sometimes you need to count your coins to see if you can buy something.

Example: You want to buy a sticker that costs $75\text{¢}$. You have 2 quarters and 3 dimes in your pocket. Do you have enough?

• First, find your total: 2 quarters ($50\text{¢}$) + 3 dimes ($30\text{¢}$) = $80\text{¢}$.
• Next, compare the amounts: $80\text{¢}$ is greater than $75\text{¢}$ ($80 > 75$).
• Yes! You have enough money to buy the sticker, and you will even get $5\text{¢}$ back in change!