Make an Amount With Coins

Make an Amount With Coins

When you are asked to make an amount with coins, your goal is to combine the values of the coins so they add up to the target amount.

1) Identify each coin value

Read the value of every coin carefully. Work with the money values, not the pictures themselves.

2) Add the coins

Add the coin values one by one until you reach the requested total. You can group coins in a way that makes the addition easier, such as pairing coins that make a round number.

3) Simplify the final answer

If the task asks you to simplify, write the final amount in its simplest form. That usually means giving the total value clearly and without extra steps.

4) Check your work

Compare your total with the target amount. If it is too small or too large, re-add the coins and look for a missing coin or a counting mistake.

Helpful tip

Counting by coin values is often easier than counting coins one at a time. For example, start with the largest coin, then add the smaller ones to finish the amount.