Money and Math

Money is used to buy and sell things. Coins and paper bills are common kinds of money. Each coin or bill is worth a certain amount. We use math to add money when we shop. Math also helps us save money for later.

Coins and Bills

In the United States, coins include pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. A penny is worth 1 cent. A nickel is worth 5 cents. A dime is worth 10 cents. A quarter is worth 25 cents. Paper bills come in amounts like 1, 5, 10, and 20 dollars.

One of the oldest coins ever made, with a lion on the front.
One of the oldest coins ever made, with a lion on the front. (Wikimedia Commons)

Using Money

When you buy something, you use addition to find the total cost. You use subtraction to find your change. Saving money means putting some away to use later. Many kids save coins in piggy banks. Adults often use banks to save money.

Fun Facts

  • The first coins were made over 2,500 years ago in a place called Lydia.
  • Paper money was first used in China hundreds of years ago.
  • One dollar is made up of 100 pennies.

Did You Know?

A one-dollar bill usually lasts about six years before it gets worn out and replaced.