Format: $XX.XX

Example: $25.50 (Twenty-five dollars and fifty cents)

Step 1: Write the amounts in columns

Step 2: Line up the decimal points (VERY IMPORTANT!)

Step 3: Add the cents first (hundredths place)

Step 4: Add the dimes (tenths place)

Step 5: Add the dollars

Step 6: Write the $ sign in the answer

Step 1: Write the larger amount first

Step 2: Line up the decimal points

Step 3: Subtract from right to left (cents, then dollars)

Step 4: Borrow from the next place value if needed

Step 5: Write the $ sign in the answer

Addition Example: $45.75 + $23.50

  $45.75
+ $23.50
--------
  $69.25
                

Subtraction Example: $82.40 - $37.65

  $82.40
- $37.65
--------
  $44.75
                

Always keep two decimal places in your answer. If the answer is $45.5, write it as $45.50

Step 1: Read the problem carefully

Step 2: Identify the money amounts

Step 3: Decide: Add or Subtract?

Step 4: Write the equation

Step 5: Solve and check if the answer makes sense

"Emma bought a book for $12.75 and a pen for $3.25. How much did she spend in total?"

"Jack had $50.00. He bought a toy for $28.75. How much money does he have left?"

• Break the problem into smaller steps

• Solve one step at a time

• Use each answer in the next step

"Sophia went to the mall with $100.00. She bought a shirt for $24.50, shoes for $45.75, and a hat for $12.00. How much money does she have left?"

Total Cost = Price per Item × Number of Items

Step 1: Ignore the $ and decimal point temporarily

Step 2: Multiply the numbers

Step 3: Count decimal places in the money amount (always 2)

Step 4: Place decimal point 2 places from the right in the answer

Step 5: Add the $ sign

Example 1: $7.25 × 4

Example 2: $15.50 × 6

• Each (price per item)

• Per (cost per unit)

• Times (multiple purchases)

• Total cost for (multiple items)

"A movie ticket costs $8.75. If Alex buys 5 tickets for his family, how much does he pay in total?"

"A bakery sells cupcakes for $2.50 each and cookies for $1.75 each. If Maria buys 6 cupcakes and 8 cookies, how much does she spend in total?"

Price per Item = Total Cost ÷ Number of Items

Each Person Pays = Total Cost ÷ Number of People

Step 1: Set up the division problem

Step 2: Keep the decimal point in the quotient above the dividend's decimal

Step 3: Divide as usual

Step 4: Add zeros after the decimal if needed

Step 5: Add the $ sign to the answer

Example 1: $36.00 ÷ 4

Example 2: $45.50 ÷ 7

• Each person pays

• Shared equally

• Split evenly

• Divided among

• Price per item

"Four friends split the cost of a $52.00 pizza equally. How much does each person pay?"

Step 1: Find the item on the list

Step 2: Look at its price

Step 3: If buying multiple items, multiply price × quantity

Step 4: Add all item costs for the total

Problem: Find the cost of 3 apples and 2 oranges.

Unit Price = Total Cost ÷ Number of Units

• Helps compare prices of different package sizes

• Shows which is the better deal

• Used in grocery shopping

Step 1: Identify the total cost

Step 2: Identify the number of units

Step 3: Divide: Total Cost ÷ Number of Units

Step 4: Write answer with "per" (per pound, per item, etc.)

Example 1: A pack of 8 pencils costs $4.00. What is the unit price per pencil?

Example 2: 5 pounds of apples cost $7.50. What is the unit price per pound?

Example 3: Comparing Prices

Which is a better deal?

• Brand A: 6 cookies for $3.00

• Brand B: 10 cookies for $4.50

Step 1: Identify what you know (total value, total number of coins, or relationships)

Step 2: Set up equations using coin values

Step 3: Use trial and error or algebra

Step 4: Check that your answer matches all conditions

"You have 8 coins that total $1.00. The coins are only quarters and nickels. How many of each coin do you have?"

Large Unit → Small Unit: MULTIPLY

Small Unit → Large Unit: DIVIDE

Minutes to Seconds: Minutes × 60 = Seconds

Seconds to Minutes: Seconds ÷ 60 = Minutes

Hours to Minutes: Hours × 60 = Minutes

Minutes to Hours: Minutes ÷ 60 = Hours

Days to Hours: Days × 24 = Hours

Hours to Days: Hours ÷ 24 = Days

Weeks to Days: Weeks × 7 = Days

Days to Weeks: Days ÷ 7 = Weeks

Example 1: Convert 5 minutes to seconds

Example 2: Convert 180 minutes to hours

Example 3: Convert 3 hours to seconds

Example 4: Convert 2 weeks to days

Example 5: Convert 48 hours to days

Money Operations

• Add/Subtract: Line up decimal points

• Multiply: Total Cost = Price × Quantity

• Divide: Unit Price = Total ÷ Quantity

• Always write money with $ and two decimal places

Coin Values (Memorize!)

• Penny = 1¢ | Nickel = 5¢ | Dime = 10¢ | Quarter = 25¢

Time Conversions (Memorize!)

• 1 min = 60 sec | 1 hr = 60 min | 1 day = 24 hrs | 1 week = 7 days

✓ Money always has 2 decimal places ($5.00, not $5)

✓ Line up decimal points when adding or subtracting money

✓ Unit price helps compare which item is a better deal

✓ Quarter = 25¢ is the most commonly used coin in word problems

✓ 60 is the magic number for time (60 seconds, 60 minutes)

✓ Larger to smaller units → Multiply

✓ Smaller to larger units → Divide

✓ Always include units in your answer (dollars, hours, etc.)