Making Change Examples in Math

Start with the recap, study the fully worked examples, then use the practice problems to check your understanding of Making Change.

This page combines explanation, solved examples, and follow-up practice so you can move from recognition to confident problem-solving in Math.

Concept Recap

Calculating how much money is returned to a buyer when they pay more than the purchase price, using subtraction with dollars and cents or the counting-up strategy.

If a toy costs \$3.75 and you hand the cashier \$5.00, making change means figuring out the gap between what you paid and what it costs—like counting up from \$3.75 to \$5.00.

Read the full concept explanation →

How to Use These Examples

  • Read the first worked example with the solution open so the structure is clear.
  • Try the practice problems before revealing each solution.
  • Use the related concepts and background knowledge badges if you feel stuck.

What to Focus On

Core idea: Making change is the gap between what you handed over and what the item cost, found by subtracting or counting up in dollars and cents.

Common stuck point: The procedure for making change is the easy part; the trap is computing cost minus paid. Asking "Did someone pay more than the price, and am I finding the money returned to them?" first is what keeps a correct-looking calculation from being attached to the wrong concept.

Sense of Study hint: Ask: Did someone pay more than the price, and am I finding the money returned to them?

Worked Examples

Example 1

easy
A pencil costs 35 cents. You pay with 50 cents. How much change do you get back?

Answer

15 cents

First step

1
Amount paid: 50 cents.

Full solution

  1. 2
    Cost: 35 cents.
  2. 3
    Change = 50−35=1550 - 35 = 15 cents.
  3. 4
    You get 15 cents back.
Change = amount paid − price. You gave 50¢ for a 35¢ item, so you receive 15¢ back.

Example 2

medium
You buy a sandwich for \$3.75 and a drink for \$1.50. You pay with a \$10 bill. How much change do you receive?

Example 3

medium
You buy a hat for \$11.36 and pay with a \$10 bill and a \$5 bill. How much change do you receive?

Example 4

hard
Three items: \$2.30, \$4.55, \$1.20. You pay with \$10. How much change?

Practice Problems

Try these problems on your own first, then open the solution to compare your method.

Example 1

easy
A toy costs 68 cents. You pay with 1 dollar (100 cents). What is your change?

Example 2

medium
You buy three items: \$2.50, \$1.25, and \$3.00. You pay with a \$10 bill. How much change do you get?

Example 3

easy
You buy a pencil for $0.40\$0.40 and pay with a $1.00\$1.00 bill. How much change do you get?

Example 4

easy
A candy costs $0.75\$0.75. You pay with $1.00\$1.00. What change is returned?

Example 5

easy
An eraser is $1.20\$1.20. You give the cashier $2.00\$2.00. How much change?

Example 6

easy
A drink costs $1.50\$1.50. You pay $2.00\$2.00. Find the change.

Example 7

easy
A snack is $2.25\$2.25. You hand over $3.00\$3.00. What change do you receive?

Example 8

easy
A toy costs $4.00\$4.00. You pay with a $5.00\$5.00 bill. How much change?

Example 9

easy
A book is $6.50\$6.50. You pay $7.00\$7.00. Find the change.

Example 10

easy
A sticker costs $0.30\$0.30. You pay with $0.50\$0.50. How much change?

Example 11

medium
A meal costs $8.65\$8.65. You pay with a $20\$20 bill. How much change should you get?

Example 12

medium
Two items cost $3.40\$3.40 and $2.15\$2.15. You pay with $10.00\$10.00. What change?

Example 13

medium
A shirt is $12.99\$12.99. You pay with $15.00\$15.00. Find the change.

Example 14

medium
You buy items totaling $7.83\$7.83 and pay with a $10\$10 bill. The cashier gives back the fewest coins/bills. How much change, and is $2.17\$2.17 correct?

Example 15

medium
A customer owes $4.36\$4.36 and pays with a $5\$5 bill plus a dime. How much change?

Example 16

medium
A toy costs $3.75\$3.75. You pay with $5.00\$5.00. Use the count-up strategy to find the change.

Example 17

medium
Lunch is $6.78\$6.78. You pay with a $10\$10 bill and 33 pennies. How much change?

Example 18

medium
You purchase 33 notebooks at $1.45\$1.45 each and pay with $5.00\$5.00. What change?

Example 19

medium
A $25\$25 gift card is used for a $18.40\$18.40 purchase. How much remains on the card?

Example 20

challenge
A cashier owes $3.68\$3.68 in change and gives the FEWEST coins/bills using $1\$1 bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. List the count and verify the value.

Example 21

challenge
An item costs $13.75\$13.75. You pay with a $20\$20 bill and a quarter so the change comes back as whole dollars. How much change, and why add the quarter?

Example 22

challenge
A buyer pays for a $7.41\$7.41 item with a $10\$10 bill and wants change with NO pennies. They add the smallest coin amount to the payment to make this work. What do they add, and what is the change?

Example 23

easy
You buy a juice for \$1.25 and pay with \$2.00. How much change do you get?

Example 24

easy
A snack is \$0.85. You pay with \$1.00. What change do you receive?

Example 25

easy
A book costs \$7.99. You pay with \$10.00. Find the change.

Example 26

easy
You buy a pen for \$0.42 and pay with \$1.00. How much change?

Example 27

easy
You pay \$5.00 for an item that costs \$1.85. What change do you get?

Example 28

easy
A drink costs \$0.78. You give the cashier \$1.00. How much change?

Example 29

medium
You buy two items: \$1.20 each. You pay with \$5.00. What change do you receive?

Example 30

medium
A meal totals \$13.27. You pay with \$20.00. How much change?

Example 31

medium
A toaster costs \$89.99. You pay with five \$20 bills. Find the change.

Example 32

medium
You buy items costing \$4.45 and \$3.10. You pay with \$10.00. What change?

Example 33

medium
You buy 5 candies at \$0.99 each and pay with a \$5.00 bill. Find the change.

Example 34

medium
Lunch is \$2.50. You pay with a \$5 bill and a nickel. How much change?

Example 35

medium
Two T-shirts at \$9.50 each. You pay with a \$20 bill. How much change?

Example 36

medium
You owe \$6.18 and pay with a \$10 bill. How much change?

Example 37

medium
An item costs \$24.99. You pay with a \$20 and a \$10. Find the change.

Example 38

medium
Cost: \$33.45. Paid: \$40.00 (two \$20 bills). Change?

Example 39

hard
You buy 7 stamps at \$0.05 each and pay with \$1.00. How much change?

Example 40

hard
An item costs \$15.20. You pay with a \$20 bill. What change should you receive?

Example 41

hard
You spend \$37.49. You pay with a \$50 bill. Find the change.

Example 42

hard
Two items at \$3.99 each. You pay with \$10. How much change?

Example 43

challenge
You have a \$30 gift card and spend \$25.00. How much remains on the card?

Example 44

challenge
Cost is \$12.34. You hand the cashier \$20.00 and a penny. The cashier returns the FEWEST coins/bills. List the change.
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Background Knowledge

These ideas may be useful before you work through the harder examples.

money countingsubtraction