Year 3 explorers handle dollars and cents together: counting mixed bills and coins written as $3.65, adding up two prices, checking whether they have enough and working out change from $1, $5, $10 or $20.
What your child will learn
- Count a mix of bills and coins and write the total, such as $3.65
- Add two prices in dollars and cents
- Work out the change from a bill
- Decide whether there is enough money to buy something
Writing dollars and cents
$3.65 means 3 dollars and 65 cents. The dollars come before the dot and the cents after it, always with two digits: 3 dollars and 5 cents is $3.05.
Adding prices
To add $1.45 and $2.30, add the dollars (1 + 2 = 3) and the cents (45 + 30 = 75): $3.75. If the cents come to 100 or more, that makes another dollar.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. You have this money. Can you buy a hot dog that costs $4.60?
- No
- Yes
Show answer
Answer: Yes. You have $5.10. A hot dog costs $4.60. $5.10 is more than $4.60, so yes — with 50¢ left over.
2. How much money is here?
- $11.25
- $11
- $11.50
- $12.25
Show answer
Answer: $11.25. Start with the biggest and count on: $10, $11, $11.25. That’s $11.25 altogether.
3. Which bills and coins make exactly $5.25?
- $1 + 25¢
- $5 + 10¢
- $5 + 25¢
Show answer
Answer: $5 + 25¢. $5 + 25¢ = $5.25. Count on from the biggest: $5, $5.25.
Tips for grown-ups
- Compare prices in ringgit and dollars when you see them online or on holiday.
- Play “cash register” with a toy till and take turns being the shopkeeper.