Year 2: Shopping problems
Part of the Year 2 money chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Shopping problems
We can solve shopping problems.
First, read the prices carefully.
Then add the prices, or take the price away from the money we have.
Check that your answer makes sense.
Key ideas
- Read the prices carefully.
- Add the prices to find the total.
- Take the price away from the money we have to find what is left.
- Check: total + money left = money we had.
Method. Take the money spent away from the money we had at first.
- Start with 50p. This is the money we have at first.50p
- Take away 35p. Take away the amount spent.50p − 35p = 15p
- Write the answer. 15p left
Check. Add back what was spent: 15p + 35p = 50p. ✓
Watch out. Take away the amount spent, not the amount left.
Method. Add the prices first. Then take the total away from the money we have.
- Add the prices. Find the total cost.40p + 45p = 85p
- Take the total from the money we have. The money left is what we have after shopping.100p − 85p = 15p
- Write the answer. 15p left
Check. Add the money left to the total: 85p + 15p = £1. ✓
Watch out. Add all the prices first. Then take the total away once.
Method. Take the money spent away from the money we had at first.
- Start with £5. This is the money we have at first.£5
- Take away £3. Take away the amount spent.£5 − £3 = £2
- Write the answer. £2 left
Check. Add back what was spent: £2 + £3 = £5. ✓
Watch out. Take away the amount spent, not the amount left.
Watch out
Watch out: read the price of each thing. Take away the money spent, not the money left.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Make a pretend shop with price labels. Ask: “How much do we spend? How much is left? Can we buy both?”
Exercise 6F Shopping problems
Non-calculatorMethod. Take the money spent away from the money we had at first.
- Start with 80p. This is the money we have at first.80p
- Take away 30p. Take away the amount spent.80p − 30p = 50p
- Write the answer. 50p left
Check. Add back what was spent: 50p + 30p = 80p. ✓
Watch out. Take away the amount spent, not the amount left.
Method. Take the money spent away from the money we had at first.
- Start with £2. This is the money we have at first.£2
- Take away £1. Take away the amount spent.£2 − £1 = £1
- Write the answer. £1 left
Check. Add back what was spent: £1 + £1 = £2. ✓
Watch out. Take away the amount spent, not the amount left.
Method. Take the money spent away from the money we had at first.
- Start with 60p. This is the money we have at first.60p
- Take away 25p. Take away the amount spent.60p − 25p = 35p
- Write the answer. 35p left
Check. Add back what was spent: 35p + 25p = 60p. ✓
Watch out. Take away the amount spent, not the amount left.
Method. Add the amounts together. Start with the biggest one, then count on.
- Start with 40p. Start with the biggest amount. Then count on.40p
- Add 35p. Add the next amount to the total so far.40p + 35p = 75p
- Write the answer. 75p
Check. Add them in a different order: 40p + 35p = 75p. ✓
Watch out. Add the amounts in the same unit. Pence with pence, pounds with pounds.
Key words. The price is what something costs. The change is the money given back.
Method. Change is the money we get back. Count on from the price to the money paid.
- Start at the price. We count on from the price to the money paid.45p
- Count on to the money paid. Add coins until we reach the money paid.45p + 50p + 5p = £1
- Find the change. The coins we counted on are the change.50p + 5p = 55p
- Write the answer. 55p change
Check. Add the change to the price: 45p + 55p = £1. ✓
Watch out. Change is the money paid minus the price. Do not add them.
Method. Add the prices. Then compare the total with the money we have.
- Add the prices. Find the total cost.30p + 20p = 50p
- Compare with the money we have. We can buy it all if we have enough money.50p and 50p
- Decide. Enough money means the total is not more than we have.Yes
Check. Take the total from the money we have: 50p − 50p = 0p. ✓
Watch out. If the total is more than the money we have, we cannot buy it all.
Method. Add the prices. Then compare the total with the money we have.
- Add the prices. Find the total cost.70p + 30p = £1
- Compare with the money we have. We can buy it all if we have enough money.90p and £1
- Decide. Enough money means the total is not more than we have.No
Check. Take the total from the money we have: 90p − £1 = not enough. ✓
Watch out. If the total is more than the money we have, we cannot buy it all.
Method. Add the amounts together. Start with the biggest one, then count on.
- Start with £3. Start with the biggest amount. Then count on.£3
- Add £2. Add the next amount to the total so far.£3 + £2 = £5
- Write the answer. £5
Check. Add them in a different order: £2 + £3 = £5. ✓
Watch out. Add the amounts in the same unit. Pence with pence, pounds with pounds.
Method. Take the money spent away from the money we had at first.
- Start with £5. This is the money we have at first.£5
- Take away £3. Take away the amount spent.£5 − £3 = £2
- Write the answer. £2 left
Check. Add back what was spent: £2 + £3 = £5. ✓
Watch out. Take away the amount spent, not the amount left.
Method. Add the prices. Then compare the total with the money we have.
- Add the prices. Find the total cost.45p = 45p
- Compare with the money we have. We can buy it all if we have enough money.40p and 45p
- Decide. Enough money means the total is not more than we have.No
Check. Take the total from the money we have: 40p − 45p = not enough. ✓
Watch out. If the total is more than the money we have, we cannot buy it all.
Method. Add the prices first. Then take the total away from the money we have.
- Add the prices. Find the total cost.35p + 35p = 70p
- Take the total from the money we have. The money left is what we have after shopping.100p − 70p = 30p
- Write the answer. 30p left
Check. Add the money left to the total: 70p + 30p = £1. ✓
Watch out. Add all the prices first. Then take the total away once.