Understand the idea.
A price tells us the cost
A price tells you how much an item costs. For an exact payment, the money you hand over must have the same total value as the price. Count values, rather than counting coins.
Use the class-shop table to read a price. Choose some money, add its values, then compare your total with that price. If the totals match, you have paid exactly.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pencil | 2 dollars |
| Bookmark | 1 dollar |
| Notebook | 5 dollars |
Different payments can be equal
You can make the same payment in different ways. For a two-dollar price, one two-dollar coin works. Two one-dollar coins work too, because one and one make two.
Stop when your total reaches the price. Too little money will not pay for the item. More money would need change; here we are finding payments that match exactly.
See the method in action.
Pay for a pencil
The pencil costs two dollars. Show two exact payments.
Worked solution
- 1
Match the price with one coin.
One two-dollar coin matches the two-dollar pencil price.
- 2
Make the same value with one-dollar coins.
Two one-dollar coins also total two dollars.
- 3
Give both exact payments.
One two-dollar coin or two one-dollar coins each pay the full price.
One two-dollar coin, or two one-dollar coins.
Choose coins for a price
A toy car costs four dollars. Can two two-dollar coins pay exactly?
Worked solution
- 1
Count the values of the two coins.
Each two-dollar coin contributes two dollars.
- 2
Compare the total with the price.
The money total and the toy car price are equal.
- 3
Answer the payment question.
Yes: the coins pay exactly, so no change is needed.
Yes. Two two-dollar coins make 4 dollars.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
A card costs three dollars. Can you pay with one two-dollar coin and one one-dollar coin?
Show answer & reasoning
Yes.
Yes. The coins total dollars, which matches the card's three-dollar price exactly.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- A badge costs one dollar. Which single coin pays exactly?
- A card costs three dollars. Show an exact payment using one-dollar coins.
- A pencil costs two dollars. Show an exact payment using two coins.
- A ball costs six dollars. Show a payment using only two-dollar coins.
- A book costs five dollars. Can a five-dollar note pay exactly? Explain.
- A bag costs four dollars. Kai offers a two-dollar coin and a one-dollar coin. Is this enough?
Read the worked solutions
- A badge costs one dollar. Which single coin pays exactly?
Its value matches the one-dollar price.
A one-dollar coin. - A card costs three dollars. Show an exact payment using one-dollar coins.
One plus one plus one makes three.
Three one-dollar coins. - A pencil costs two dollars. Show an exact payment using two coins.
One and one make two.
Two one-dollar coins. - A ball costs six dollars. Show a payment using only two-dollar coins.
Count two, four, six.
Three two-dollar coins. - A book costs five dollars. Can a five-dollar note pay exactly? Explain.
The note and the price both have value five dollars.
Yes. - A bag costs four dollars. Kai offers a two-dollar coin and a one-dollar coin. Is this enough?
Two and one make three. One more dollar is needed to reach four.
No. It is one dollar short.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Year 1 money modelling, needs and wants, simple class enterprise and consequences of financial choices. Activities use supplied pretend prices and whole-dollar amounts.
Official curriculum source ↗