When shopping everything costs an amount in dollars and cents.
This is how you do it:
1. First add up all the dollars.
2. Then add up all the cents.
3. If it is 100 cents or more, that becomes a dollar.
Example: Backpack 28 dollars 75 cents, pencil case 14 dollars 65 cents.
$28 + $14 is $42, 75 cents + 65 cents is 140 cents.
That is 1 dollar 40 cents, so 43 dollars 40 cents altogether.
The numbers written in show the answer.
Example
- Backpack $28.75
- Pencil case $14.65
$43 and 40¢
For parents
What does this exercise practice?
Add amounts in dollars and cents and confidently apply the carry from cents to dollars.
Common pitfalls
Children often forget the carry: 95 cents plus 49 cents is not 144 cents as a final result, but 1 dollar 44 cents. Saying it out loud helps with converting.
How to practice at home
When shopping for real, read out two price tags and work out the total price together, then compare with the receipt.
Related: Counting Money, Written Addition