Grasp Maths

Year 3

Add and subtract amounts of money to give change, using both pounds and pence

Add and subtract amounts of money, find change and compare amounts, using pounds and pence.

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Lesson overview

Measurement

Money is counted in pounds (£) and pence (p). £1 is the same as 100p. We can say an amount using its pounds and its pence, such as £2 and 30p. We add prices to find a total, and we subtract the cost from the amount paid to find the change.

Pounds and pence

£1 is 100p. So £2 is 200p and £3 is 300p.

100p make £1.

Add prices

£2 and 30p + £1 and 20p = £3 and 50p.

Add the pounds, then add the pence.

Find change

If you pay with a £5 note for an item costing £3 and 40p, the change is £1 and 60p.

Change is what is left after paying.

Compare amounts

£4 and 10p is more than £3 and 95p.

Compare the pounds first, then the pence.

Worked example

A notebook costs £1 and 75p and a pen costs 65p. What is the total cost?

  1. Write the two prices clearly.
  2. Add the pence: 75p + 65p = 140p.
  3. 140p is £1 and 40p, because £1 is 100p.
  4. Add the pounds: £1 + £1 = £2. So the total cost is £2 and 40p.

Try it

Read the amount paid and the cost carefully, then decide whether you need a total or change.

Question 1

What is £1 and 20p + 80p?

Question 2

What is the change from £5 if an item costs £2 and 50p?

Question 3

How many pence are in £2? Write the pence number only.

Question 4

Which amount is greater?

Question 5

A toy costs £4 and 25p and you pay £5. What is the change?

Common mistakes

Watch for these when working through the lesson.

  • Mixing up total and change.
  • Reading 40p as £40.
  • Forgetting that 100p make £1 when the pence add up to more than 100.

Related topics

These ideas fit closely with this lesson.

  • Measure, compare, add and subtract lengths, mass and volume or capacity.
  • Solve one-step and two-step questions using information presented in scaled bar charts, pictograms and tables.

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