Money Counting Examples in Math

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

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

Concept Recap

Identifying coins and bills by their value and adding them together to find a total amount of money.

Each coin is like a shortcut for counting—a nickel is a bundle of 5 pennies, a dime is 10 pennies, and a quarter is 25 pennies. Counting money is like skip counting with different-sized jumps.

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: Money counting matches each coin or bill to its value and adds the values, using different-sized jumps for different coins.

Common stuck point: The procedure for money counting is the easy part; the trap is counting coins as 1 each. Asking "Am I adding up amounts of money by each coin or bill's value to get a total?" first is what keeps a correct-looking calculation from being attached to the wrong concept.

Sense of Study hint: Ask: Am I adding up amounts of money by each coin or bill's value to get a total?

Worked Examples

Example 1

easy
You have 2 dimes and 3 pennies. How much money do you have in total?

Answer

23 cents

First step

1
A dime is worth 10 cents. Two dimes: 2×10=202 \times 10 = 20 cents.

Full solution

  1. 2
    A penny is worth 1 cent. Three pennies: 3×1=33 \times 1 = 3 cents.
  2. 3
    Add them together: 20+3=2320 + 3 = 23 cents.
  3. 4
    Total: 23 cents (or \$0.23).
Count the higher-value coins first (dimes), then add lower-value coins (pennies). This is called counting on.

Example 2

medium
You have 1 quarter, 2 nickels, and 4 pennies. How much money is that altogether?

Example 3

easy
Lily holds a small brown coin. Is it a penny, a nickel, or a dime?

Example 4

easy
Sam sees a silver coin that is thick and a little big. Is it a nickel or a dime?

Example 5

hard
You see three coins on the table: one is brown, one is small and silver, one is thick and silver. Which one is the nickel?

Example 6

easy
Mia has 4 pennies in her hand. How many cents is that?

Example 7

medium
Ben has 6 pennies. His mom gives him 2 more pennies. How many cents does Ben have?

Example 8

hard
Owen has 3 pennies. His sister gives him 3 more, and then he finds 1 on the floor. How many cents does Owen have?

Example 9

easy
You have 1 nickel and 3 pennies. How many cents do you have?

Example 10

easy
Sara has 2 dimes and 1 nickel. How many cents does Sara have?

Example 11

hard
You have 4 nickels and 3 pennies. How many cents in all?

Example 12

easy
Leo has 2 quarters, 1 dime, and 4 pennies. How many cents does Leo have?

Example 13

easy
Maya wants to buy a sticker that costs 30¢. She has 1 quarter and 1 nickel. Does she have enough?

Example 14

hard
Sam has 2 quarters, 3 dimes, and 5 pennies. His brother has 4 dimes and 6 nickels. Who has more money, and by how much?

Practice Problems

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

Example 1

easy
You have 3 nickels and 2 pennies. How many cents do you have?

Example 2

medium
You want to buy a snack that costs 50 cents. You have 1 quarter and 3 dimes. Do you have enough money? How much do you have?

Example 3

easy
How many cents is one nickel worth?

Example 4

easy
You have 33 dimes. How many cents is that?

Example 5

easy
A quarter is worth how many cents?

Example 6

easy
How many cents are in $1\$1?

Example 7

easy
You have 22 quarters. How many cents?

Example 8

easy
A penny plus a nickel equals how many cents?

Example 9

easy
How many cents is one dime plus one nickel?

Example 10

easy
Which is worth more: 55 pennies or 11 nickel?

Example 11

medium
You have 22 quarters, 11 dime, and 33 pennies. How many cents total?

Example 12

medium
You have 44 nickels and 22 dimes. How many cents total?

Example 13

medium
How many nickels equal 11 quarter?

Example 14

medium
Express 137137 cents in dollars and cents.

Example 15

medium
How many dimes equal $1\$1?

Example 16

medium
An item costs 4040 cents. You pay with 22 quarters. How much change?

Example 17

medium
What is the fewest coins to make 3030 cents using quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies?

Example 18

medium
You have $2.50\$2.50 and spend $1.75\$1.75. How much is left?

Example 19

medium
Three children have 4545, 3030, and 2525 cents. How much do they have together?

Example 20

challenge
Using only dimes and quarters, how many ways can you make exactly 5050 cents?

Example 21

challenge
You pay for a $3.65\$3.65 item with a $5\$5 bill. List a fewest-coins-and-bills change for $1.35\$1.35.

Example 22

challenge
A jar has the same number of nickels and dimes worth $1.20\$1.20 total. How many of each?

Example 23

easy
A small brown coin is worth 1 cent. What is its name?

Example 24

easy
A silver coin that has Thomas Jefferson's house (Monticello) on the back is worth 5 cents. What is its name?

Example 25

easy
The smallest silver coin is worth 10 cents. What is its name?

Example 26

easy
Which coin is the smallest in size: penny, nickel, or dime?

Example 27

medium
Which coin is brown: the penny, the nickel, or the dime?

Example 28

easy
You have 3 pennies. How many cents do you have?

Example 29

easy
You have 5 pennies. How many cents?

Example 30

easy
You have 7 pennies. How many cents?

Example 31

medium
You have 10 pennies. How many cents?

Example 32

medium
You have 4 pennies, then you find 4 more. How many cents in all?

Example 33

easy
You have 3 nickels. How many cents?

Example 34

easy
You have 4 dimes. How many cents?

Example 35

easy
You have 2 nickels. How many cents?

Example 36

medium
You have 5 nickels. How many cents?

Example 37

medium
You have 1 nickel and 4 pennies. How many cents?

Example 38

easy
You have 3 quarters. How many cents?

Example 39

easy
You have 4 quarters. How many cents is that? Is that equal to a dollar?

Example 40

easy
You have 1 quarter, 2 dimes, and 3 nickels. How many cents?

Example 41

medium
You have 3 quarters and 2 dimes. How many cents in all?

Example 42

medium
Tom has 1 quarter, 4 dimes, and 2 pennies. He wants to buy a juice box that costs 75¢. Does he have enough, and by how many cents?
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Background Knowledge

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

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