Step-by-step Maths Level 5: Two-step money problems
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 5 perimeter of rectilinear shapes, time and money problems chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Two-step money problems
Money in pounds and pence is worked out in the same way as decimals to hundredths. Line up the decimal points.
In a two-step problem, add the costs first, then take the total from the money at the start.
Key ideas
- Line up the decimal points.
- Work out the total cost first.
- Keep two places for the pence.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£4.35 + £0.85 = £5.20
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£10.00 - £5.20 = £4.80
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£4.80
Check. Check: £4.80 + £5.20 = £10.00.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£12.50 + £3.75 = £16.25
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£20.00 - £16.25 = £3.75
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£3.75
Check. Check: £3.75 + £16.25 = £20.00.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Find the total of all the items, then take it from the money paid.
- Work out the cost of the cups. Multiply the price by the number of cups.3 × £1.25 = £3.75
- Add the cost of the cake. Add all the items to find the total.£3.75 + £2.40 = £6.15
- Work out the change. Change is what is left from the money paid.£10.00 - £6.15 = £3.85
- Write the answer. Give the change with the pound sign.£3.85
Check. Check: £6.15 + £3.85 = £10.00.
Watch out. Add all the items before you take anything away.
Watch out
Watch out. Do not subtract each cost one at a time from the wrong amount. Work out the total of the costs first.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use real coins and notes. Ask the child to pay the total, then count the change back to the amount paid.
Exercise 9D Practice: two-step money problems
Non-calculatorMethod. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£5.43 + £0.76 = £6.19
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£19.35 - £6.19 = £13.16
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£13.16
Check. Check: £13.16 + £6.19 = £19.35.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£1.70 + £0.98 = £2.68
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£16.09 - £2.68 = £13.41
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£13.41
Check. Check: £13.41 + £2.68 = £16.09.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£1.87 + £2.43 = £4.30
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£14.51 - £4.30 = £10.21
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£10.21
Check. Check: £10.21 + £4.30 = £14.51.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£3.52 + £1.18 = £4.70
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£10.40 - £4.70 = £5.70
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£5.70
Check. Check: £5.70 + £4.70 = £10.40.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£1.42 + £1.39 = £2.81
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£14.03 - £2.81 = £11.22
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£11.22
Check. Check: £11.22 + £2.81 = £14.03.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£2.05 + £1.54 = £3.59
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£14.41 - £3.59 = £10.82
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£10.82
Check. Check: £10.82 + £3.59 = £14.41.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£3.80 + £0.59 = £4.39
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£15.81 - £4.39 = £11.42
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£11.42
Check. Check: £11.42 + £4.39 = £15.81.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£2.88 + £2.61 = £5.49
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£11.93 - £5.49 = £6.44
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£6.44
Check. Check: £6.44 + £5.49 = £11.93.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£2.48 + £2.28 = £4.76
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£18.75 - £4.76 = £13.99
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£13.99
Check. Check: £13.99 + £4.76 = £18.75.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£4.88 + £1.74 = £6.62
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£15.02 - £6.62 = £8.40
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£8.40
Check. Check: £8.40 + £6.62 = £15.02.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£5.16 + £2.18 = £7.34
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£17.92 - £7.34 = £10.58
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£10.58
Check. Check: £10.58 + £7.34 = £17.92.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£3.74 + £0.81 = £4.55
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£12.90 - £4.55 = £8.35
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£8.35
Check. Check: £8.35 + £4.55 = £12.90.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£5.69 + £2.89 = £8.58
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£11.84 - £8.58 = £3.26
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£3.26
Check. Check: £3.26 + £8.58 = £11.84.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£4.47 + £0.72 = £5.19
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£19.48 - £5.19 = £14.29
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£14.29
Check. Check: £14.29 + £5.19 = £19.48.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£1.23 + £2.49 = £3.72
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£14.32 - £3.72 = £10.60
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£10.60
Check. Check: £10.60 + £3.72 = £14.32.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.
Method. Add the costs, then subtract the total from the money at the start.
- Add the two costs. Add the pounds and the pence together.£1.40 + £0.69 = £2.09
- Take the total away from the money Sam has. Subtract the total cost.£14.66 - £2.09 = £12.57
- Write the answer. Give the amount left with the pound sign.£12.57
Check. Check: £12.57 + £2.09 = £14.66.
Watch out. Keep the pence in two places: £0.85 and £2.40, not £0.85 and £2.4.