When you go shopping every item costs an amount in dollars and cents.
Always write the dollars before the point and the cents after it.
Tip: add up all the dollars first, then all the cents.
If there are 100 cents or more, they become one dollar.
Example: milk costs 1 dollar 45 cents, bread costs 2 dollars 35 cents.
1 dollar plus 2 dollars is 3 dollars.
45 cents plus 35 cents is 80 cents.
Together that is 3 dollars 80 cents.
The numbers filled in show the solution.
Example
- Milk $1.45
- Bread $2.35
$3 and 80¢
For parents
What does this exercise practice?
Add up amounts in dollars and cents and understand the carry from cents to dollars.
Common pitfalls
Children often forget the carry: 60 cents plus 50 cents is not 110 cents but 1 dollar 10 cents. Saying it out loud helps with the conversion.
How to practice at home
On a real shopping trip read out two price tags and estimate the total together, then compare at the checkout.
Related: Shopping and adding up prices, Counting Money, What does multiplying mean?