Elementary School Math Quiz: Solve Money Word Problems
20 questions · exam conditions
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Solve Money Word ProblemsQuestion 1 of 20

Marcus has 1 quarter, 3 dimes, and 2 nickels. How many cents is that in all?

6¢
45¢
65¢
60¢
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Elementary School Math Quiz

Elementary School Math Quiz: Solve Money Word Problems

Practice Solve Money Word Problems in Elementary School Math with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Solve Money Word Problems, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Elementary School Math.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Marcus has 1 quarter, 3 dimes, and 2 nickels. How many cents is that in all?

  1. 6¢
  2. 45¢
  3. 65¢ (correct answer)
  4. 60¢
Explanation: Marcus has 65 cents in all: 1 quarter (25 cents) plus 3 dimes (30 cents) plus 2 nickels (10 cents) equals 65 cents. Choice A (6 cents) comes from counting the number of coins (1+3+2=6) instead of their value. Choice B (45 cents) and Choice D (60 cents) come from errors adding the coin values, such as leaving out a coin or miscounting one of the groups.

Question 2

Yuki has 75 cents. Carlos has 50 cents. How much more money does Yuki have than Carlos?

  1. 25¢ (correct answer)
  2. 75¢
  3. 50¢
  4. 125¢
Explanation: 75 minus 50 equals 25, so Yuki has 25 cents more than Carlos. 75 cents is Yuki's total amount, not the difference between the two. 50 cents is Carlos's total amount, not the difference. 125 cents would result from adding the two amounts instead of subtracting.

Question 3

Amir has 3 dimes and 2 nickels. How much money does he have?

  1. 35¢
  2. 50¢
  3. 40¢ (correct answer)
  4. 5¢
Explanation: Three dimes make 30 cents, and two nickels add 10 cents, for a total of 40 cents. 35 cents does not account for both coin types correctly. 50 cents would result from treating the nickels as dimes. 5 cents only reflects one nickel.

Question 4

Maya buys a pencil for 65¢ and pays with $1.00 (100¢). How much change will she receive?

  1. 35¢ (correct answer)
  2. 165¢
  3. 65¢
  4. 100¢
Explanation: This question tests 2nd grade understanding of solving word problems involving money, including counting coins, adding and subtracting money amounts, and making change (CCSS 2.MD.C.8: Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using and¢symbolsappropriately).Tosolvemoneywordproblems,firstidentifywhattheproblemisasking:countingtotal(addcoinvalues),findingchange(subtractcostfromamountpaid),combiningmoney(add),orfindingremaining(subtractspentfromhad).Knowcoinvalues:penny=1¢,nickel=5¢,dime=10¢,quarter=25¢,dollar=100¢or$1.Tocountmixedcoins,countfromlargestvaluetosmallest:countquartersby25s,thendimesby10s,thennickelsby5s,thenpenniesby1s.Forexample,2quarters+3dimes+1nickel:count25,50(quarters),then60,70,80(dimes),then85(nickel)=85¢total.Inthisproblem,Mayabuysapencilfor65¢andpayswithand ¢ symbols appropriately). To solve money word problems, first identify what the problem is asking: counting total (add coin values), finding change (subtract cost from amount paid), combining money (add), or finding remaining (subtract spent from had). Know coin values: penny = 1¢, nickel = 5¢, dime = 10¢, quarter = 25¢, dollar = 100¢ or $1. To count mixed coins, count from largest value to smallest: count quarters by 25s, then dimes by 10s, then nickels by 5s, then pennies by 1s. For example, 2 quarters + 3 dimes + 1 nickel: count 25, 50 (quarters), then 60, 70, 80 (dimes), then 85 (nickel) = 85¢ total. In this problem, Maya buys a pencil for 65¢ and pays with1.00 (100¢), and needs to find the change. To solve, subtract cost from payment (100¢−65¢=35¢100¢ - 65¢ = 35¢ change). Choice B is correct because subtracting the cost 65¢ from the payment 100¢ gives 35¢ change (100−65=35100 - 65 = 35). The answer 35¢ correctly uses coin values and appropriate operation. Choice C represents a wrong operation (added 100+65=165100 + 65 = 165 when should subtract for change). This error typically happens when students confuse operations. To help students: Use real or plastic coins for hands-on practice. Teach coin values with visuals and rhymes: 'Penny 1, nickel 5, dime is 10, we're still alive! Quarter's 25, dollars are 100—counting money is so much fun!' Practice skip counting by 25s, 10s, 5s, 1s. Model counting mixed coins: organize coins largest to smallest, count quarters (25, 50, 75), then dimes (85, 95), then nickels (100), then pennies (101, 102)—makes counting easier. For word problems, teach keywords: 'How much money' = count total (add), 'How much change' = subtract (payment - cost), 'How much left' = subtract (had - spent), 'How much altogether' = add (combine). Practice making change: 'Item costs 45¢, I have 50¢. 50−45=550 - 45 = 5, so 5¢ change.' Use manipulatives and real-world scenarios (classroom store, earning money for chores). Emphasize coin values: dime is smaller than nickel but worth more (10¢ > 5¢). Watch for: wrong coin values, adding when should subtract (or vice versa), counting number of coins instead of value, incomplete counting, answering different question (gave cost when asked for change), arithmetic errors, mixing cents and dollars.

Question 5

Ben has $1.00 in his wallet. He buys a cookie for $35¢35¢ andmilkforand milk for 45¢45¢ .Hethenfinds. He then finds 22 $ dimes on the ground. How much money does Ben have now?

  1. 60¢60¢
  2. 40¢40¢ (correct answer)
  3. 50¢50¢
  4. 20¢20¢
Explanation: Ben starts with 100¢. He spends 35¢ + 45¢ = 80¢, leaving him with 20¢. Finding 2 dimes (20¢) gives him 20¢ + 20¢ = 40¢. Choice A shows 100¢ - 35¢ - 5¢ (miscalculating milk cost). Choice C shows 100¢ - 80¢ + 30¢ (counting dimes as 15¢ each). Choice D shows the amount before finding the dimes.

Question 6

Maria had 100¢ and spent 45¢ on a pencil. How much money does she have left?

  1. 55¢ (correct answer)
  2. 45¢
  3. 145¢
  4. 65¢
Explanation: Subtracting 45¢ from 100¢ leaves 55¢. Choice B repeats the amount spent instead of subtracting it. Choice C adds the two amounts instead of subtracting. Choice D is off by 10¢ from a regrouping mistake.

Question 7

Luis has 1 dollar bill, 2 quarters, and 7 pennies. He spends $1.23 on lunch. How much money does he have left?

  1. 34¢ (correct answer)
  2. 24¢
  3. 44¢
  4. 14¢
Explanation: Luis has 100¢ + 50¢ + 7¢ = 157¢. He spends 123¢. Subtract: 157¢ − 123¢ = 34¢ left. The answer 24¢ is 10¢ too little, 44¢ is 10¢ too much, and 14¢ is 20¢ too little.

Question 8

Sofia had 35¢. She earned 2 dimes (20¢) for a chore. How much money does she have now?

  1. 55¢ (correct answer)
  2. 45¢
  3. 70¢
  4. 15¢
Explanation: Adding Sofia's 35 cents to the 20 cents she earned gives 55 cents. Choice B, 45 cents, comes from a small addition slip. Choice C, 70 cents, comes from doubling the 35 cents instead of adding the 20 cents she earned. Choice D, 15 cents, comes from subtracting instead of adding.

Question 9

Ana saves 1 quarter each day for 4 days. On the fifth day, she finds 3 dimes and 6 pennies. What is the total value of all her money?

  1. $1.46
  2. $1.56
  3. $1.36 (correct answer)
  4. $1.26
Explanation: Count Ana's quarters by 25s: 25, 50, 75, 100. That is 100¢, or $1.00. Then add the dimes: 10, 20, 30. Then the pennies: 6. $1.00 + 30¢ + 6¢ = $1.36. $1.46 adds an extra dime, $1.56 adds two extra dimes, and $1.26 leaves out one dime.

Question 10

Sarah buys pencils that cost 30¢ in total and an eraser that costs 12¢. She pays with 50¢. How much change should she get?

  1. 38¢
  2. 18¢
  3. 23¢
  4. 8¢ (correct answer)
Explanation: Sarah spent 30 cents on pencils and 12 cents on the eraser, for a total of 42 cents. She paid with 50 cents, so 50 - 42 = 8 cents change, making Choice D correct. Choice A is wrong because it does not subtract enough from 50. Choice B is wrong because it uses the wrong total cost. Choice C is wrong because it makes a subtraction error.

Question 11

Chen has 80¢ and spends 1 quarter. How much money is left?

  1. 55¢ (correct answer)
  2. 45¢
  3. 105¢
  4. 25¢
Explanation: The correct answer is 55¢, because 1 quarter is 25¢, and 80¢ - 25¢ = 55¢. Choice B (45¢) subtracts too much from the total. Choice C (105¢) adds instead of subtracting. Choice D (25¢) gives the amount spent instead of the amount left over.

Question 12

Jamal buys a sticker for 45¢ and pays with 2 quarters (50¢). How much change should he get back?

  1. 95¢
  2. 45¢
  3. 5¢ (correct answer)
  4. 50¢
Explanation: Paying 50 cents for a 45-cent sticker means Jamal gets 5 cents back in change. Choice A, 95 cents, comes from adding the amounts instead of subtracting. Choice B, 45 cents, just repeats the cost of the sticker. Choice D, 50 cents, repeats the amount paid instead of calculating the change.

Question 13

Amir buys a pencil for 65¢ and pays with $1.00. How much change will he receive?

  1. 100¢
  2. 35¢ (correct answer)
  3. 45¢
  4. 65¢
Explanation: Amir paid 100¢ (one dollar) for a 65¢ pencil. Count up from 65¢: 65¢ + 35¢ = 100¢, so his change is 35¢. 100¢ is the money he paid, 65¢ is the cost of the pencil, and 45¢ comes from a subtraction mistake.

Question 14

Sofia had 30 cents and earned 2 dimes more. How much money does she have now?

  1. 32¢32¢
  2. 20¢20¢
  3. 70¢70¢
  4. 50¢50¢ (correct answer)
Explanation: Two dimes are worth 20 cents, so Sofia's 30 cents plus 20 more cents makes 30 + 20 = 50 cents, making Choice D correct. Choice A is wrong because it does not add a full 20 cents. Choice B is wrong because it only shows the amount she earned, not her total. Choice C is wrong because it adds too much money.

Question 15

Emma had 90¢. She spent 35¢ on a snack. How much money does she have left?

  1. 55¢ (correct answer)
  2. 35¢
  3. 125¢
  4. 65¢
Explanation: Emma has 55 cents left, because 90−35=5590 - 35 = 55. Choice B (35 cents) repeats the amount she spent instead of finding what's left. Choice C (125 cents) comes from adding instead of subtracting. Choice D (65 cents) comes from subtracting incorrectly.

Question 16

Keisha buys a pencil for 65¢. She pays with $1.00 (100¢). How much change will she receive?

  1. 100¢
  2. 165¢
  3. 35¢ (correct answer)
  4. 65¢
Explanation: This question tests 2nd grade understanding of solving word problems involving money, including counting coins, adding and subtracting money amounts, and making change (CCSS 2.MD.C.8: Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately). To solve money word problems, first identify what the problem is asking: counting total (add coin values), finding change (subtract cost from amount paid), combining money (add), or finding remaining (subtract spent from had). Know coin values: penny = 1¢, nickel = 5¢, dime = 10¢, quarter = 25¢, dollar = 100¢ or $1. To count mixed coins, count from largest value to smallest: count quarters by 25s, then dimes by 10s, then nickels by 5s, then pennies by 1s. For example, 2 quarters + 3 dimes + 1 nickel: count 25, 50 (quarters), then 60, 70, 80 (dimes), then 85 (nickel) = 85¢ total. In this problem, Keisha buys a pencil for 65¢ and pays with $1.00 (100¢) and needs to find the change. To solve, subtract the cost from the payment (100¢ - 65¢ = 35¢ change). Choice A is correct because subtracting the cost 65¢ from the payment 100¢ gives 35¢ change (100 - 65 = 35). The answer 35¢ correctly uses the subtraction operation. Choice C represents a specific error: wrong operation (added 100 + 65 = 165 when should subtract for change). This error typically happens when students confuse operations. To help students: Use real or plastic coins for hands-on practice. Teach coin values with visuals and rhymes: 'Penny 1, nickel 5, dime is 10, we're still alive! Quarter's 25, dollars are 100—counting money is so much fun!' Practice skip counting by 25s, 10s, 5s, 1s. Model counting mixed coins: organize coins largest to smallest, count quarters (25, 50, 75), then dimes (85, 95), then nickels (100), then pennies (101, 102)—makes counting easier. For word problems, teach keywords: 'How much money' = count total (add), 'How much change' = subtract (payment - cost), 'How much left' = subtract (had - spent), 'How much altogether' = add (combine). Practice making change: 'Item costs 45¢, I have 50¢. 50 - 45 = 5, so 5¢ change.' Use manipulatives and real-world scenarios (classroom store, earning money for chores). Emphasize coin values: dime is smaller than nickel but worth more (10¢ > 5¢). Watch for: wrong coin values, adding when should subtract (or vice versa), counting number of coins instead of value, incomplete counting, answering different question (gave cost when asked for change), arithmetic errors, mixing cents and dollars.

Question 17

Marcus has 75 cents. Yuki has 50 cents. How much more money does Marcus have?

  1. 125¢125¢
  2. 75¢75¢
  3. 50¢50¢
  4. 25¢25¢ (correct answer)
Explanation: Marcus has 75 cents and Yuki has 50 cents, so the difference is 75 - 50 = 25 cents, making Choice D correct. Choice A is wrong because it adds the two amounts instead of subtracting. Choice B is wrong because it just repeats Marcus's amount without subtracting. Choice C is wrong because it just repeats Yuki's amount without subtracting.

Question 18

Maya has 2 quarters, 1 dime, and 3 pennies. How many cents does she have altogether?

  1. 35¢
  2. 7¢
  3. 63¢ (correct answer)
  4. 50¢
Explanation: Two quarters make 50 cents, one dime adds 10 cents, and three pennies add 3 cents, for a total of 63 cents. 35 cents does not account for all three coin types correctly. 7 cents only reflects the dime and pennies. 50 cents only counts the quarters and leaves out the dime and pennies.

Question 19

Emma buys a sticker for 45 cents and pays with 2 quarters. How much change does she get?

  1. 45 cents
  2. 5 cents (correct answer)
  3. 50 cents
  4. 95 cents
Explanation: Emma gets 5 cents in change, since 2 quarters equal 50 cents, and 50 minus 45 equals 5. Choosing 45 cents gives the cost of the sticker instead of the change received. Choosing 50 cents gives the amount she paid, not the change left over. Choosing 95 cents comes from adding the cost and the payment together instead of subtracting.

Question 20

Maria has 33 quarters and 44 pennies. She buys a sticker that costs 68¢68¢. How much money does she have left?

  1. 15¢15¢ (correct answer)
  2. 19¢19¢
  3. 23¢23¢
  4. 7¢7¢
Explanation: Maria starts with 3 quarters (75¢) and 4 pennies (4¢), totaling 79¢. After buying a 68¢ sticker, she has 79¢ - 68¢ = 15¢ left. Choice B represents adding the pennies incorrectly (75 + 4 - 60 = 19). Choice C shows subtracting only 60¢ instead of 68¢. Choice D shows subtracting 68¢ from just the quarters (75¢ - 68¢ = 7¢).