Solved Exercises on Money Word Problems with Change in Grade 3

Master money word problems with change: making change, calculating change, and real-world scenarios through these 5 detailed exercises.

Solution: Exercises 1 to 3
1 Basic Making Change
Exercise 1
Problem: Sarah bought a candy bar for $1.25. She paid with a $5.00 bill. How much change should she receive?
Definition:

Making change: Calculating the money returned when payment exceeds the cost of an item

Change Calculation Method:
  1. Identify the amount paid
  2. Identify the cost of the item
  3. Subtract the cost from the amount paid
  4. Align decimal points when subtracting
Amount Paid
$5.00
Cost of Item
-$1.25
Change
$3.75
Step 1: Identify the amount paid

Sarah paid $5.00

Step 2: Identify the cost of the item

The candy bar costs $1.25

Step 3: Set up the subtraction

$5.00 - $1.25

Step 4: Subtract the cents

Since 0 < 5 in the hundredths place, borrow 1 from the tenths place

10 - 5 = 5 cents

Step 5: Subtract the tenths

Since we borrowed, 9 - 2 = 7 tenths

Step 6: Subtract the dollars

Since we borrowed from tens, 4 - 1 = 3 dollars

Step 7: Combine the results

$3.75

Sarah should receive $3.75 in change
Final answer:

Sarah should receive $3.75 in change.

Applied rules:

• Change formula: Amount paid - Cost = Change

• Decimal alignment: Align decimal points when subtracting

• Borrowing: When top digit is smaller, borrow from next place value

💵
$5.00
Paid
🍬
$1.25
Cost
🪙
$3.75
Change
2 Shopping with Change
Exercise 2
Problem: Tom bought a toy car for $3.85 and a sticker for $0.75. He paid with a $10.00 bill. How much change should he receive?
Definition:

Multi-item purchase: Finding change when buying multiple items

Item 1
$3.85
Item 2
+$0.75
Total Cost
$4.60
Change
$5.40
Step 1: Calculate the total cost

$3.85 + $0.75 = $4.60

Step 2: Identify the amount paid

Tom paid $10.00

Step 3: Set up the subtraction

$10.00 - $4.60

Step 4: Subtract the cents

Since 0 < 0, no borrowing needed: 0 - 0 = 0

Step 5: Subtract the tenths

Since 0 < 6, borrow from dollars: 10 - 6 = 4

Step 6: Subtract the dollars

Since we borrowed, 9 - 4 = 5 dollars

Step 7: Combine the results

$5.40

Tom should receive $5.40 in change
Final answer:

Tom should receive $5.40 in change.

Applied rules:

• Multi-step: Add items first, then calculate change

• Decimal alignment: Align decimal points when subtracting

• Borrowing: When top digit is smaller, borrow from next place value

$10.00
-
$4.60
=
$5.40
3 Receipt Change Problem
Exercise 3
Problem: Emma bought several items that cost $2.45, $1.35, and $0.90. She gave the cashier $10.00. How much change should she receive?
Definition:

Multiple items: Calculating change when purchasing several different items

Item 1
$2.45
Item 2
+$1.35
Item 3
+$0.90
Total
$4.70
Change
$5.30
Step 1: Add the first two items

$2.45 + $1.35 = $3.80

Step 2: Add the third item

$3.80 + $0.90 = $4.70

Step 3: Identify the amount paid

Emma paid $10.00

Step 4: Set up the subtraction

$10.00 - $4.70

Step 5: Subtract the cents

Since 0 < 0, no borrowing needed: 0 - 0 = 0

Step 6: Subtract the tenths

Since 0 < 7, borrow from dollars: 10 - 7 = 3

Step 7: Subtract the dollars

Since we borrowed, 9 - 4 = 5 dollars

Step 8: Combine the results

$5.30

Emma should receive $5.30 in change
Final answer:

Emma should receive $5.30 in change.

Applied rules:

• Multi-step: Add all items first, then calculate change

• Decimal alignment: Align decimal points when adding and subtracting

• Borrowing: When top digit is smaller, borrow from next place value

🛒
$2.45
Item 1
🛒
$1.35
Item 2
🛒
$0.90
Item 3
💰
$5.30
Change
Making Change Concepts and Rules
Change = Amount Paid - Total Cost
Making Change Formula
Change Process
Identify Cost
Find item price
Change Process
Identify Payment
See amount paid
Change Process
Subtract
Payment - Cost
Change Process
Return Change
Give difference
Key definitions:

Making change: Calculating the money returned when payment exceeds the cost of an item

Total cost: The sum of all items purchased

Amount paid: The money given to the cashier

Change: The money returned to the customer

Change Calculation Method:
  1. Read the problem: Understand what is being asked
  2. Identify amounts: Find the cost and amount paid
  3. Calculate total: If multiple items, add them first
  4. Subtract: Amount paid minus total cost
  5. Align decimals: Place decimal points in vertical alignment
  6. Check answer: Verify by adding change to cost
Tip 1: Always align decimal points when subtracting money.
Tip 2: When buying multiple items, add them together first.
Tip 3: Look for clue words like "change," "returned," "get back."
Tip 4: Check your answer by adding the change back to the cost.
Common errors: Misaligning decimals, forgetting to add multiple items, subtracting smaller from larger incorrectly.
Practice areas: Decimal alignment, borrowing across zeros, adding multiple amounts.
Buy Items: Calculate total cost of all items
Pay Money: Give amount to cashier
Calculate: Amount paid minus total cost
Receive: Get change back
Total Cost = Sum of All Items
Multi-Item Purchase Formula
Solution: Exercises 4 to 5
4 Store Purchase Change
Exercise 4
Problem: Jake bought a notebook for $2.25, a pen for $0.85, and erasers for $1.10. He paid with a $20.00 bill. How much change should he receive?
Definition:

Store purchase: Calculating change when buying multiple items at a store

Notebook
$2.25
Pen
+$0.85
Erasers
+$1.10
Total
$4.20
Change
$15.80
Step 1: Add the notebook and pen

$2.25 + $0.85 = $3.10

Step 2: Add the erasers

$3.10 + $1.10 = $4.20

Step 3: Identify the amount paid

Jake paid $20.00

Step 4: Set up the subtraction

$20.00 - $4.20

Step 5: Subtract the cents

Since 0 < 0, no borrowing needed: 0 - 0 = 0

Step 6: Subtract the tenths

Since 0 < 2, borrow from dollars: 10 - 2 = 8

Step 7: Subtract the dollars

Since we borrowed, 19 - 4 = 15 dollars

Step 8: Combine the results

$15.80

Jake should receive $15.80 in change
Final answer:

Jake should receive $15.80 in change.

Applied rules:

• Multi-step: Add all items first, then calculate change

• Decimal alignment: Align decimal points when adding and subtracting

• Borrowing: When top digit is smaller, borrow from next place value

📝
$2.25
Notebook
🖊️
$0.85
Pen
🧹
$1.10
Erasers
💰
$15.80
Change
5 Cashier Change Problem
Exercise 5
Problem: At the school store, Maria bought supplies that cost $3.45, $1.75, and $0.80. She paid with two $5.00 bills. How much change should she receive?
Definition:

Multiple payment: Calculating change when paying with multiple bills

Item 1
$3.45
Item 2
+$1.75
Item 3
+$0.80
Total Cost
$6.00
Amount Paid
$10.00
Change
$4.00
Step 1: Add the first two items

$3.45 + $1.75 = $5.20

Step 2: Add the third item

$5.20 + $0.80 = $6.00

Step 3: Calculate amount paid

Maria paid with two $5.00 bills = $10.00

Step 4: Set up the subtraction

$10.00 - $6.00

Step 5: Subtract the dollars

10 - 6 = 4 dollars

Step 6: Combine the results

$4.00

Maria should receive $4.00 in change
Final answer:

Maria should receive $4.00 in change.

Applied rules:

• Multi-step: Add all items first, then calculate change

• Multiple payment: Calculate total amount paid

• Decimal alignment: Align decimal points when adding and subtracting

🎒
$3.45
Supplies
✏️
$1.75
Items
📏
$0.80
Tools
💰
$4.00
Change
Money Word Problems with Change Summary
Comprehensive Summary of Making Change Problems
Definitions of Key Concepts:

Making change: Calculating the money returned when payment exceeds the cost of an item.

Total cost: The sum of all items purchased.

Amount paid: The money given to the cashier.

Change: The money returned to the customer (Amount paid - Total cost).

Multi-item purchase: Buying several items and calculating change for the total.

Core Rules and Principles:

• Change formula: Amount paid - Total cost = Change.

• Decimal alignment: Always align decimal points when adding or subtracting money.

• Multi-step: When buying multiple items, add them first before calculating change.

• Borrowing rule: When the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit, borrow from the next place value.

Step-by-Step Methods:

1. Read the problem: Understand what is being asked for.

2. Identify amounts: Find the cost of all items and the amount paid.

3. Calculate total: If multiple items, add them together first.

4. Set up subtraction: Amount paid minus total cost.

5. Align decimals: Write numbers vertically with decimal points aligned.

6. Subtract column by column: Start from the rightmost digit (cents).

7. Borrow when needed: If top digit is smaller, borrow from the next place value.

8. Check your answer: Verify by adding the change to the total cost.

Examples from Simple to Advanced:

Simple Change: $5.00 - $2.00 = $3.00 (no borrowing needed)

With Borrowing: $5.00 - $1.75 = $3.25 (borrow from dollars)

Multi-item: ($3.00 + $2.00) = $5.00; $10.00 - $5.00 = $5.00 change

Complex: ($4.50 + $2.25 + $1.75) = $8.50; $20.00 - $8.50 = $11.50 change

Tips and Tricks:

• Clue words: "change," "returned," "get back," "receive back" indicate change problems.

• Estimate first: Round numbers to estimate your answer before calculating precisely.

• Check with addition: Add your change to the total cost to verify it equals the amount paid.

• Visualize: Draw bills and coins to understand the problem better.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Misaligning decimal points when setting up subtraction

• Forgetting to add multiple items before calculating change

• Not borrowing correctly when the top digit is smaller than the bottom

• Calculating change as cost minus payment instead of payment minus cost

Key Takeaways for Memorization:

• Change = Amount Paid - Total Cost

• Always align decimal points when working with money

• Add multiple items before calculating change

• Check your work by adding change back to verify

Change = Amount Paid - Total Cost
Making Change Formula
🛒
Buy Items
Calculate Total
💰
Pay
Amount Given
➖
Subtract
Payment - Cost
🪙
Get Change
Money Back

Questions & Answers

Question: How do I know when to add multiple items before calculating change?

Answer: You need to add multiple items whenever the problem mentions buying more than one item:

  • When the problem lists multiple items with different prices
  • When you see words like "and," "plus," or "together" with multiple prices
  • When the problem says "items that cost" followed by multiple amounts

Example: "A book for $3.50 and a pen for $1.25" → Add $3.50 + $1.25 = $4.75 total cost.

Question: What should I do if I need to make change from a large bill like $20.00?

Answer: When making change from a large bill:

  • Follow the same steps: subtract the total cost from the amount paid
  • Be careful with borrowing across multiple place values
  • Always align decimal points when subtracting
  • Check your answer by adding the change back to the cost

Example: $20.00 - $7.50 = $12.50 change.

Question: How can I check if my change calculation is correct?

Answer: There are two ways to check your change calculation:

  • Addition check: Add your change to the total cost - it should equal the amount paid
  • Estimation check: Round numbers to estimate if your answer is reasonable

Example: If you buy something for $3.50 and pay with $5.00, you should get $1.50 back. Check: $3.50 + $1.50 = $5.00 ✓