Problem Description Sheet:       Making Change             

Introduction: Money is passed from one person to another millions of times each day. If someone gives $1.00 for an item that costs 73 cents, the person expects 27 cents back in change. This problem is about making change.

Problem:

  1. List one set of coins that could be given to return change of 27 cents.
     

  2. You are selling old toys at a garage sale. A girl gives you $1.00 for a yo-yo that you have priced at 85 cents. You have no nickels or pennies to make change. What will you do?
     
  3. List all the possible ways you can return change of 27 cents.
     
  4. Describe the collection of fewest coins that can be used so that you can return change of each amount from 1 cent to 99 cents.

Materials: Real or play coins (optional); pencil, paper, calculator

Extra Questions: You have quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies that you can return as change. List all the possible ways to return $1.00 in change if you use at least two coins of each type. List all the possible ways to return $1.00 in change if you use at least one coin of each type.

You might want to make up other questions about making change.

 

 

 Topic(s):

Numbers and operations,
money measurement (M-63d),
critical and creative thinking, communication

Activity Type:

  Group  Individual 

 Assessment:

  Scale:      Levels 1-5        

  Self  Peer  Teacher 

  Include in your portfolio?
  Yes  No  Optional 

  Toward your marks?
  Yes  No  Optional 

       

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