Free Printable Making Change Worksheets for 2nd Grade Students

Download and print our comprehensive worksheets on making change, including exercises with step-by-step solutions.

Money Recognition & Value
Money Values
💰
Coin Values
Penny 1¢ One cent
Nickel 5¢ Five cents
Dime 10¢ Ten cents
Quarter 25¢ Twenty-five cents
Dollar $1.00 One hundred cents
Making Change Steps
Change Calculation Process
1
Identify Total Cost
2
Identify Payment
3
Subtract Cost
4
Return Change
Payment - Cost = Change
Change Formula
Key Definitions:

Cost: The price of an item

Payment: Money given to buy an item

Change: Money returned after purchase

Tip 1: Count money starting with the largest coins first.
Tip 2: Use addition to count total money, subtraction for change.
Tip 3: Always check your work by adding change back to cost.
Solution: Exercises 1 to 3
1 Basic Change
Exercise 1
Sarah buys a candy bar for $0.75. She gives the cashier $1.00. How much change does she get?
Definition:

Making change: Returning the correct amount of money after a purchase

Method:
  1. Identify the cost of the item ($0.75)
  2. Identify the payment given ($1.00)
  3. Subtract cost from payment to find change
  4. Express the change in coins if needed
Step 1: Identify the values

Cost = $0.75, Payment = $1.00

Step 2: Subtract to find change

$1.00 - $0.75 = $0.25

Step 3: Express as coins

$0.25 = 1 quarter

Change = $0.25 (one quarter)
Final answer:

Sarah gets $0.25 in change, which is one quarter.

Applied rules:

• Subtraction: Payment - Cost = Change

• Coin value: 1 quarter = $0.25

• Verification: $0.75 + $0.25 = $1.00 ✓

Memory trick: Count up from the cost to the payment: 75¢ to 100¢ is 25¢.
2 Multiple Coins
Exercise 2
Tom buys a toy for $0.45. He pays with 2 quarters. How much change does he receive?
Definition:

Multiple coins: Using more than one type of coin for payment

Step 1: Calculate total payment

2 quarters = 2 × $0.25 = $0.50

Step 2: Subtract cost from payment

$0.50 - $0.45 = $0.05

Step 3: Express as coins

$0.05 = 1 nickel

Change = $0.05 (one nickel)
Final answer:

Tom receives $0.05 in change, which is one nickel.

Applied rules:

• Multiplication: 2 quarters = 2 × $0.25 = $0.50

• Subtraction: $0.50 - $0.45 = $0.05

• Coin identification: $0.05 = 1 nickel

Tip: Always count total payment before calculating change.
3 Dollar Change
Exercise 3
Emma buys a book for $1.80. She gives the cashier $2.00. How much change does she get?
Definition:

Dollar amounts: Working with dollars and cents together

Step 1: Identify the values

Cost = $1.80, Payment = $2.00

Step 2: Subtract to find change

$2.00 - $1.80 = $0.20

Step 3: Express as coins

$0.20 = 2 dimes OR 4 nickels OR 20 pennies

Change = $0.20 (2 dimes)
Final answer:

Emma gets $0.20 in change, which could be 2 dimes.

Applied rules:

• Decimal subtraction: $2.00 - $1.80 = $0.20

• Equivalent values: $0.20 = 20¢ = 2 dimes

• Verification: $1.80 + $0.20 = $2.00 ✓

Tip: Convert dollars to cents to make subtraction easier: $2.00 = 200¢, $1.80 = 180¢, 200¢ - 180¢ = 20¢.
Solution: Exercises 4 to 5
4 Mixed Coins
Exercise 4
Alex buys an apple for $0.60. He pays with 3 quarters. How much change does he get?
Definition:

Mixed coins calculation: Adding different coin values before subtraction

Step 1: Calculate total payment

3 quarters = 3 × $0.25 = $0.75

Step 2: Subtract cost from payment

$0.75 - $0.60 = $0.15

Step 3: Express as coins

$0.15 = 1 dime + 1 nickel OR 3 nickels OR 15 pennies

Step 4: Choose simplest combination

$0.15 = 1 dime + 1 nickel

Change = $0.15 (1 dime + 1 nickel)
Final answer:

Alex receives $0.15 in change, which is 1 dime and 1 nickel.

Applied rules:

• Multiplication: 3 × $0.25 = $0.75

• Subtraction: $0.75 - $0.60 = $0.15

• Multiple representations: $0.15 can be made with different coin combinations

Tip: Use the fewest coins possible for change: $0.15 = 1 dime + 1 nickel is better than 15 pennies.
5 Complex Purchase
Exercise 5
Maya buys a toy car for $1.25 and a sticker for $0.35. She gives the cashier $2.00. How much change does she receive?
Definition:

Multi-item purchase: Adding costs of multiple items before calculating change

Step 1: Calculate total cost

$1.25 + $0.35 = $1.60

Step 2: Subtract total cost from payment

$2.00 - $1.60 = $0.40

Step 3: Express as coins

$0.40 = 4 dimes OR 1 quarter + 1 dime + 1 nickel OR 8 nickels

Step 4: Choose simplest combination

$0.40 = 4 dimes

Change = $0.40 (4 dimes)
Final answer:

Maya receives $0.40 in change, which is 4 dimes.

Applied rules:

• Addition: Total cost = $1.25 + $0.35 = $1.60

• Subtraction: $2.00 - $1.60 = $0.40

• Verification: $1.60 + $0.40 = $2.00 ✓

Tip: Always add up all items first, then subtract from payment.
Tip: Check your work by adding the total cost and change to see if it equals the payment.
COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY: MAKING CHANGE
KEY DEFINITIONS
  • Cost: The price of an item you want to buy (e.g., a candy costs $0.50)
  • Payment: The money you give to buy something (e.g., you give $1.00)
  • Change: The money you get back after buying something (e.g., you get $0.50 back)
  • Coins: Small pieces of money in different values (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters)
  • Bill: Paper money in larger denominations (dollar bills)
CORE PRINCIPLES & RULES
  • Basic Formula: Payment - Cost = Change
  • Coin Values: Penny = 1¢, Nickel = 5¢, Dime = 10¢, Quarter = 25¢, Dollar = 100¢
  • Always Subtract: Subtract the smaller number (cost) from the larger number (payment)
  • Verification Rule: Cost + Change = Payment (always check your answer!)
  • Multiple Items: Add all costs together before subtracting from payment
STEP-BY-STEP METHOD
  1. Identify the cost: Find how much the item(s) cost
  2. Identify the payment: Find how much money was given
  3. Subtract: Payment - Cost = Change
  4. Convert to coins: Express the change in coins
  5. Verify: Add cost + change to see if it equals payment
EXAMPLES FROM SIMPLE TO ADVANCED
  • Simple: Item costs $0.25, you pay $0.50 → $0.50 - $0.25 = $0.25 change
  • Moderate: Item costs $0.75, you pay $1.00 → $1.00 - $0.75 = $0.25 change
  • Advanced: Two items cost $1.25 and $0.35, you pay $2.00 → $1.25 + $0.35 = $1.60 total cost → $2.00 - $1.60 = $0.40 change
TIPS & TRICKS
  • Count Up Method: Start with the cost and count up to the payment (easier than subtraction)
  • Use Real Coins: Practice with actual coins to build number sense
  • Start with Largest Coins: When making change, use the largest coins first
  • Check Your Work: Always verify by adding cost + change = payment
  • Convert Dollars to Cents: Sometimes it's easier to work in all cents
COMMON PITFALLS TO AVOID
  • Wrong Operation: Don't add instead of subtract
  • Missing Items: Forget to add up multiple item costs
  • Incorrect Coin Values: Confusing coin values (quarter vs. dime)
  • No Verification: Not checking your answer
  • Order of Subtraction: Subtracting the wrong way (payment - cost, not cost - payment)
KEY MEMORIZATION TIPS
  • Remember the Formula: "Payment minus Cost equals Change" (P - C = Ch)
  • Coin Rhyme: "Penny is one, Nickel is five, Dime is ten, Quarter is twenty-five!"
  • Always Check: "If I add my answer back, I should get the original number"
  • Picture It: Imagine giving money and getting some back

Questions & Answers

Question: I sometimes get confused when counting change. How can I make sure I'm getting the right amount back?

Answer: Great question! Here are some strategies to verify your change:

  • Add it up: Always add the cost and your change together to see if it equals what you paid.
  • Count up: Start with the cost and count up to what you paid. For example, if something costs $0.75 and you pay $1.00, count up: 75¢, 80¢, 85¢, 90¢, 95¢, $1.00. That's 25¢.
  • Use coins: Practice with real coins to build number sense.
  • Draw it: Draw circles representing coins to visualize the problem.

Example: Item costs $0.60, you pay $1.00. Change should be $0.40. Check: $0.60 + $0.40 = $1.00 ✓

Question: My child struggles with word problems about making change. What can I do to help them understand better?

Answer: Word problems can be challenging! Try these approaches:

  • Act it out: Use real money to simulate the transaction.
  • Highlight keywords: Help them identify "cost," "paid," "change," "how much left."
  • Draw a picture: Visualize the problem with drawings of coins and items.
  • Break it down: Solve one step at a time.
  • Practice with real scenarios: Go shopping together and let them calculate change.

Example: "Sarah has $1.00 and buys a candy for $0.75" → Circle "$1.00" and "$0.75" to identify the numbers to use.

Question: Sometimes I have to give exact change, and sometimes I get change back. How do I know which one to do?

Answer: Great observation! Here's how to tell the difference:

  • You get change back: When you pay MORE than the cost (pay $1.00 for a $0.75 item).
  • You give exact change: When the problem asks you to pay exactly the amount (pay exactly $0.75 for a $0.75 item).
  • Look for clues: Words like "change," "back," "left over" mean you'll get money back.
  • Check the numbers: If payment > cost, you get change. If payment = cost, no change.

Example: "Pay exactly $0.75" = no change. "Pay $1.00 for $0.75" = $0.25 change back.