🔢 MathGrade 2Lesson 36
← Back🔒 PDF with full access

Add and Subtract Money

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

What you will learn

  • 1Add two coin amounts to find the total cost
  • 2Subtract cost from amount paid to find the correct change
  • 3Check a change calculation by confirming cost + change = amount paid
📘

Mini Lesson

Now that you know coin values, you can use adding and subtracting to solve real money problems — just like at a store!

Adding money — finding the total

  • To find the total cost of two or more items, add their prices.
  • Example: a pencil costs 30¢ and an eraser costs 15¢. Total = 30¢ + 15¢ = 45¢.
  • Line up the numbers and add just like regular addition. The ¢ symbol stays on the answer.

Subtracting money — finding the change

  • Change is the money you get back when you pay more than the cost.
  • Formula: Change = Amount paid − Cost.
  • Example: a sticker costs 35¢. You pay 50¢. Change = 50¢ − 35¢ = 15¢.
  • Always check: cost + change = amount paid. If not, try again!

Working in cents vs. dollars

  • 100 cents = $1.00, so you can work in cents and convert at the end.
  • Example: 75¢ + 25¢ = 100¢ = $1.00.
  • Write the ¢ sign after cents and the $ sign before dollars.

Words to know

Cost

The price of something at a store

e.g. The pencil cost 30 cents.

Total

The full amount when you add prices

e.g. Two items totaled 45 cents.

Change

Money you get back when you pay more than the cost

e.g. I got 15 cents change.

Cents

Coin amount, written with the symbol ¢

e.g. Fifty cents is the same as 50¢.

Dollar

Bill amount, written with the symbol $

e.g. One dollar is 100 cents, written $1.00.

Adding money: 30 cents plus 15 cents equals 45 centsA pencil priced at 30 cents plus an eraser priced at 15 cents equals a total of 45 cents. A second example shows 75 cents plus 25 cents equals 100 cents which equals one dollar.Adding Money30¢+15¢=Total45¢30¢ + 15¢ = 45¢ pencil + eraserTip: 100¢ = $1.0075¢ + 25¢ = 100¢ = $1.00When cents reach 100, write it as $1.00
Adding a 30¢ pencil and a 15¢ eraser to get a 45¢ total. Below: 75¢ + 25¢ = 100¢ = $1.00.
Finding change: paying 50 cents for a 35 cent stickerA step-by-step diagram: a 50 cent amount paid minus a 35 cent cost equals 15 cents change. The formula Change equals Amount Paid minus Cost is shown with a check that cost plus change equals amount paid.Finding ChangeCost35¢−Pay50¢50¢=Change15¢50 − 35 = 15Change = Amount Paid − Cost50¢ − 35¢ = 15¢Check: Cost + Change = Amount Paid35¢ + 15¢ = 50¢ ✓ CorrectIf cost + change = amountpaid, your change is right!
Finding change: a 35¢ sticker paid with 50¢ gives 15¢ change (50 − 35 = 15). Check: 35 + 15 = 50.
💡

Always write the ¢ sign after cents and the $ sign before dollars. When cents reach 100, rewrite them as $1.00.

Free · 7 days · No credit card

Unlock the full HSEA system for 7 days.

Add your first kid profile and your 7 days start: every lesson in every grade, saved progress for each child. Nothing to set up, no card required, nothing to cancel.

  • ✓ All 1,880 lessons, Grades 1–6, every subject
  • ✓ Profiles + saved progress for every kid
  • ✓ Printable lessons with answer key
Start your 7-day free trial →
Already convinced? See full membership plans →
← Lesson 35: Identify Coins and BillsLesson 37: Role-play Shopping and Change →