Everyday Money Word Problems
Money word problems test whether you can spot the operation hidden inside a short real-life situation. This page shows the core moves for unit prices, shared costs, discounts, change, and missing item prices.
The Rules Every Everyday Money Question Uses
The questions are short, but each one depends on reading the situation carefully and choosing the right operation before calculating.
🧮 Rule 1: Total divided by number = unit price
When identical items cost the same, divide the total cost by the number of items.
Example: 5 drinks cost $47.10, so one drink costs $47.10 ÷ 5 = $9.42
🤝 Rule 2: Equal sharing is division
If friends share a total bill equally, divide the whole amount by the number of friends.
Example: 3 friends share $14.76, so each pays $14.76 ÷ 3 = $4.92
🏷️ Rule 3: Discount means subtract
A discount lowers the original price. Subtract the discount from the original price to find the sale price.
Example: $16.48 with $5 off becomes $16.48 - $5 = $11.48
🧾 Rule 4: Change tells you what was spent
If someone pays with a note and gets change, subtract the change from the note first. That gives the total spent.
Example: $10 paid, $4.24 change: total spent = $5.76. If one item was $0.25, the other was $5.51.
3 Worked Everyday Money Examples
One straightforward, one multi-step, and one classic mistake to avoid.
1. Finding a Unit Price
Question: Andrew bought 5 drinks for $47.10. What is the cost of one drink?
Worked Method
Step 1: The 5 drinks all cost the same, so divide the total by 5.
$47.10 ÷ 5 = $9.42
Tip: Unit price means the cost of one item. Look for phrases like "cost of one" or "price of one".
2. Finding the Other Item Price
Question: Sita had a $10 note and bought two magazines. After getting $4.24 in return, one magazine cost $0.25. What was the price of the other magazine?
Worked Method
Step 1: Find the total spent: $10.00 - $4.24 = $5.76.
Step 2: Subtract the known magazine price: $5.76 - $0.25 = $5.51.
Tip: The change is not the answer. Change helps you find the total amount spent.
3. Discount or Division?
Question: A magazine originally cost $16.48, but there is a discount of $5. What is the new price?
Worked Method
Step 1: A discount reduces the price, so subtract it from the original price.
$16.48 - $5.00 = $11.48
Tip: Do not divide by 5 just because the number 5 appears. The word "discount" tells you to subtract.
Before You Buy
Want to check the level and layout first? Download the free 3-question sample. It uses the same question style, printable format, and answer-key approach as the full pack.
Download Free Sample PDFGet the Full Practice Pack
The full Everyday Money Maths pack contains 75 questions across 3 printable test sets. Students practise unit prices, equal sharing, discounts, change, and real-world money problem solving.
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