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Calculate simple change

Calculate change as the difference between the amount paid and the cost, representing dollars and cents as decimals to the hundredths and subtracting with place values aligned. The reasoning includes deciding whether the payment is sufficient, interpreting the result as a monetary amount, and checking it by adding the change to the cost; this scope excludes complex transactions, rates, percentages, and amounts beyond ordinary whole-dollar purchases.

Detailed Explanation: Calculate simple change

To find change, subtract the cost from the amount paid:

change=amount paid−cost\text{change}=\text{amount paid}-\text{cost}

Example: A toy costs $3.47. You pay $5.00. How much change should you get?

  1. Check that the payment is enough.
    $5.00 is greater than $3.47, so there will be change.

  2. Write the amounts with the decimal points lined up.

$5.00− $3.47\begin{array}{r} \$5.00\\ -\ \$3.47\\ \hline \end{array}
  1. Subtract from right to left.
    You need to regroup because you cannot subtract 7 hundredths from 0 hundredths.
$5.00− $3.47$1.53\begin{array}{r} \$5.00\\ -\ \$3.47\\ \hline \$1.53 \end{array}

The change is $1.53.

  1. Check your answer by adding the change to the cost:
$3.47+$1.53=$5.00\$3.47+\$1.53=\$5.00

Since the sum equals the amount paid, the answer is correct.

Learn by doing: Calculate simple change

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