Step-by-step Maths Level 2: Counting coins to find the total
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 2 money chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Counting coins to find the total
To find the total, start with the biggest coin. Add each coin in turn and keep a running total.
Say the total in pence if it is less than £1. Say it in pounds if it is £1 or more.
Key ideas
- Start with the biggest coin.
- Keep a running total.
- Less than £1 is in pence.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: 20p.20p
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: 40p.40p
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 45p.45p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 47p.47p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.47p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 47p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: 50p.50p
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: 60p.60p
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: 70p.70p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 72p.72p
- Add 1p. Keep a running total: 73p.73p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.73p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 73p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add £1. Keep a running total: £1.£1
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: £1.50.£1.50
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: £1.70.£1.70
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: £1.75.£1.75
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.£1.75
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still £1.75.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Watch out
Watch out. Do not add the numbers on the coins in the wrong order. Start with the biggest coin and keep the running total.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use real coins. Put them in a row and count along it, saying the running total.
Exercise 8B Practice: counting coins
Non-calculatorMethod. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 5p.5p
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 10p.10p
- Add 1p. Keep a running total: 11p.11p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.11p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 11p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: 50p.50p
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: £1.£1
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: £1.20.£1.20
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: £1.30.£1.30
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: £1.32.£1.32
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.£1.32
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still £1.32.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: 20p.20p
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: 30p.30p
- Add 1p. Keep a running total: 31p.31p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.31p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 31p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: 20p.20p
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: 40p.40p
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 45p.45p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 47p.47p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.47p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 47p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add £1. Keep a running total: £1.£1
- Add £1. Keep a running total: £2.£2
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: £2.20.£2.20
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: £2.30.£2.30
- Add 1p. Keep a running total: £2.31.£2.31
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.£2.31
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still £2.31.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: 10p.10p
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 15p.15p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 17p.17p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.17p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 17p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add £1. Keep a running total: £1.£1
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: £1.50.£1.50
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: £1.55.£1.55
- Add 1p. Keep a running total: £1.56.£1.56
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.£1.56
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still £1.56.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: 50p.50p
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: 60p.60p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 62p.62p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.62p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 62p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: 50p.50p
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: £1.£1
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: £1.05.£1.05
- Add 1p. Keep a running total: £1.06.£1.06
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.£1.06
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still £1.06.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: 50p.50p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 52p.52p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 54p.54p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.54p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 54p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: 20p.20p
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 25p.25p
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 30p.30p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.30p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 30p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: 50p.50p
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: 60p.60p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 62p.62p
- Add 1p. Keep a running total: 63p.63p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.63p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 63p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add £1. Keep a running total: £1.£1
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: £1.20.£1.20
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: £1.30.£1.30
- Add 10p. Keep a running total: £1.40.£1.40
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: £1.45.£1.45
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.£1.45
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still £1.45.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: 50p.50p
- Add 20p. Keep a running total: 70p.70p
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 75p.75p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 77p.77p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.77p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 77p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: 50p.50p
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 55p.55p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 57p.57p
- Add 1p. Keep a running total: 58p.58p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.58p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 58p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.
Method. Add the coins one at a time. Keep a running total.
- Add 50p. Keep a running total: 50p.50p
- Add 5p. Keep a running total: 55p.55p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 57p.57p
- Add 2p. Keep a running total: 59p.59p
- Write the total. This is the value of all the coins.59p
Check. Add in a different order to check: the total is still 59p.
Watch out. Count the biggest coins first. Then add the smaller coins.