Fraction of a Dollar

Contributor: Erika Wargo. Lesson ID: 12643

Pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters: they are different sizes, and they are different fractions of a dollar. Learn about fractions and finance with money games and a fraction quiz!

categories

Fractions and Operations, Measurement and Data

subject
Math
learning style
Visual
personality style
Otter
Grade Level
Intermediate (3-5)
Lesson Type
Skill Sharpener

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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  • Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of coins and learn how they can be represented as fractions of a dollar?

Great! Get started meeting Jenny and Paul.

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Jenny has two quarters, and Paul has five dimes. Put on your detective hat and figure out who has more coins and who has more money.

  • Are you up for the challenge?

Let's find out!

When writing amounts of money, two forms can be used: cents and dollars.

To write cents, use a cent sign and do not use a decimal point. A quarter is worth 25 cents or 25¢.

To write dollars, use a decimal point and dollar sign: $1.00.

A decimal point is also used to show fractions of a dollar. A fraction is part of a whole, so a fraction of a dollar is part of a dollar. A quarter, or $0.25, means  twenty-five hundredths of a dollar, which is a fraction of a dollar equal to 25 cents.

Look at each coin below and say its value out loud.

Now, look at the chart below to see the value of each coin and its fraction of a dollar. Think about how many parts — the coin — equal a whole — dollar.

Coin Name Value Fraction of a Dollar
penny $0.01   1  
100
nickel $0.05   5  
100
dime 10¢ $0.10   10  
100
quarter 25¢ $0.25   25  
100

 

Use the chart to answer these questions.

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Next, work through these questions.

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Great work!

Look back at Jenny, who has two quarters, and Paul, who has five dimes.

  • Which friend has the most coins?

Yes! Paul has five coins.

  • But who has the most money?

That's right! They have the same amount.

Jenny 2 quarters = $0.25 + $0.25 = $0.50      
              $0.50 = 50
2 quarters = 25 + 25 = 50 100
100 100 100    

 

Paul 5 dimes = $0.10 + $0.10 + $0.10 + $0.10 + $0.10 = $0.50      
                          $0.50 = 50
5 dimes = 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 50 100
100 100 100 100 100 100    

 

Review what you have learned with the following video.

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Move on to the Got It? section to practice using fractions of a dollar.

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