Work through the levels in order. Type your answer and press Check — open the worked solution if you get stuck. Answers like -6, 3/4 or 0.25 are typed exactly as shown. A ⭐ Bonus Challenge at the end is extra credit — skip it if the rest was hard work.
Level 1 · Warm-up
1 How much are three 20c coins and one 50c coin altogether? (answer in cents)
Show worked solution
Three 20c coins is 60c, and 60 + 50 = 110c (which is $1.10).
2 What is the FEWEST number of coins needed to make 70c?
Show worked solution
50c + 20c makes 70c, so 2 coins.
3 How much are two $2 coins and three 50c coins altogether?
Show worked solution
Two $2 coins is $4, three 50c coins is $1.50, so altogether $5.50.
Level 2 · Core
4 You have one $2 coin, two 50c coins and four 20c coins. How much do you have altogether?
Show worked solution
$2 + $1.00 + 80c = $3.80.
5 What is the FEWEST number of coins needed to make $3.85?
Show worked solution
$2 + $1 + 50c + 20c + 10c + 5c = $3.85, which is 6 coins.
6 You need to make $4.50 using only 50c coins. How many coins do you need?
Show worked solution
Two 50c coins make $1, so $4 needs 8 and the extra 50c needs 1 more: 9 coins.
Level 3 · Challenge
7 I have 8 coins worth $2.40 altogether, using only 50c and 10c coins. How many 50c coins do I have?
Show worked solution
Eight 10c coins is 80c. Each 10c swapped for a 50c adds 40c, and you need 240 − 80 = 160c more. That is 160 ÷ 40 = 4 fifty-cent coins (and 4 ten-cent coins).
8 A drink costs $1.35 and you pay with a $2 coin. What is the fewest number of coins you can get in change?
Show worked solution
Change is $2 − $1.35 = 65c. Biggest first: 50c + 10c + 5c, which is 3 coins.
9 I have three times as many 20c coins as 50c coins, and $2.20 altogether. How many 20c coins do I have?
Show worked solution
Each group of one 50c and three 20c is worth 50 + 60 = 110c. Since $2.20 is two groups, there are 2 fifty-cent coins and 6 twenty-cent coins.
⭐ Bonus Challenge · only if the rest felt easy
10 You have three 50c coins, four 20c coins and five 10c coins. Pay exactly $1.60 using the FEWEST coins. How many coins do you use?
Show worked solution
Three 50c coins make $1.50, and one 10c coin makes it $1.60 — that is 4 coins. Using 20c coins instead needs 5 or more.