This is a level 2 number strand activity from the Figure It Out series.
A PDF of the student activity is included.
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solve problems using money
Students will probably do the calculations for this activity mentally, although some may need to use toy money.
As the total amount required to play every game once is $4.60, it is possible for Huia to play each game once and have 40 cents left over. Many different combinations of games are possible with $2.50, but she must play 20 cent games in lots of five in order to get rounded dollar amounts.
Ask students to explain how they worked out their answers, keeping in mind that many strategies are possible. They may say:
“Five 20 cent coins make $1, so I went 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5, which is 25.”
“Ten 20 cent coins is $2, so I went 10 + 10 + 5 is 25.”
“Fifty cents is half of $1, so $5 is 10 half dollars. The answer is 10.”
“Fifty times 10 is 500. There are 500 cents in $5.”
The best way to answer question 6 is to develop a system to find all the possible combinations of 20 cent and 50 cent coins that add to $3.50. This can be done by using a table:
Answers to Activity
1. She can play all the games once; this comes to $4.60.
2. Huia could play the four 50c games and 2 of the 20c games; this would be 6 different games altogether.
3. 10 times
4. 25 times
5. 5 times
6. She gets $3.50 change. This could be:
5 x 20c and 5 x 50c – she can play all the 50c and 20c games.
10 x 20c and 3 x 50c – she can play all the 20c games but must choose 3 of the 50c games.
15 x 20c and 1 x 50c – she can play all the 20c games but must choose 1 of the 50c games.
She can’t play any of the $1 games.