Understanding Money Subtraction

Before we begin, remember:

• $1.00 = 100 cents
• Always subtract smaller amounts from larger amounts
• You can subtract using either cents (¢) or dollars ($)

Examples

1: Basic Subtraction

Problem: You have 75 cents (0.75).Youbuyatoyfor50cents(0.75).Youbuyatoyfor50cents(0.50). How much money do you have left?

Solution:

1. Write the amounts: 75¢ – 50¢
2. Subtract the numbers: 75 – 50 = 25
3. Final amount left: 25¢ or $0.25

Answer: You have 25 cents left.

2: Subtracting Smaller Amounts

Problem: You have 60 cents (0.60).Youspend15cents(0.60).Youspend15cents(0.15) on candy. How much is left?

Solution:

1. Write the amounts: 60¢ – 15¢
2. Subtract the numbers: 60 – 15 = 45
3. Final amount left: 45¢ or $0.45

Answer: You have 45 cents left.

3: Subtracting from a Dollar

Problem: You have 1 dollar (1.00).Youbuyastickerfor85cents(1.00).Youbuyastickerfor85cents(0.85). How much is left?

Solution:

1. Convert $1.00 to cents: 100¢
2. Write the amounts: 100¢ – 85¢
3. Subtract the numbers: 100 – 85 = 15
4. Final amount left: 15¢ or $0.15

Answer: You have 15 cents left.

Practice Problems

Try solving these:

1. 90¢ – 35¢ = ?
2. 1.25−1.25−0.75 = ?
3. 50¢ – 17¢ = ?

Answers:

1. 55¢ ($0.55)
2. 50¢ ($0.50)
3. 33¢ ($0.33)

Subtracting money is easy when you:

1. Know your starting amount
2. Subtract what you spend
3. Keep track of what’s left

Practice with real coins and bills to become confident in handling money. Next time you go shopping, try calculating your change before the cashier tells you!