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Maths Adventures

Train maths quest: money

A story-led junior maths adventure using timetables, distances and platform clues to budget coins, tickets and shop items.

Quick answer

You can use maths to plan your train journey, work out how much money you need, and make smart choices about tickets, snacks, and gifts. By the end of this page, you'll be able to add up coins, work out how much things cost, and save money for your next trip!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use addition and subtraction to budget money for a train journey, including calculating costs of tickets, snacks, and gifts. Success signs:
  • You can add up different coin values to find a total
  • You can work out how much change you should get from a ticket
  • You can compare prices to find the best value
  • You can plan a budget for your train trip

Why this matters

When you go on a train journey, you need to know how much money to take and how to spend it wisely. Whether you're buying a ticket, getting a snack, or saving up for a gift, maths helps you make good choices. This is useful not just for train travel, but for shopping, pocket money, and planning your own adventures.

How it works

To work out how much money you need for a train journey, you need to:
  1. Count up all the coins you have
  2. Calculate how much your ticket costs
  3. Work out how much change you should get
  4. Decide what to buy with the rest
  5. Make sure you have enough money

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're going on a train journey with your family. You have these coins:
  • 3 x 50p coins
  • 2 x 20p coins
  • 4 x 10p coins
  • 5 x 5p coins
First, you need to add up all your coins:
  • 3 x 50p = 150p
  • 2 x 20p = 40p
  • 4 x 10p = 40p
  • 5 x 5p = 25p
Total = 150p + 40p + 40p + 25p = 255p = £2.55 Now, let's say your ticket costs £3.00. How much change should you get?
  • £3.00 - £2.55 = 45p
You should get 45p change.

Try it as a mini adventure

Train Maths Quest: Money Adventure You are planning a train journey to visit your grandpa. You have a budget of £5.00 to spend on your trip. Step 1: You have these coins:
  • 2 x £1 coins
  • 3 x 50p coins
  • 4 x 20p coins
  • 5 x 10p coins
How much money do you have altogether? Step 2: The ticket costs £2.80. How much money will you have left after buying the ticket? Step 3: You want to buy a snack that costs 65p and a small gift that costs 35p. Do you have enough money for both? Step 4: How much money will you have left after buying the snack and gift? Step 5: If you want to save 50p for a future trip, how much can you spend now? Step 6: What if you decide to buy a drink that costs 80p instead of a snack? How much money would you have left then?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding up the number of coins instead of their value
    Why it happens: Children might count 10 coins and think that's £10
    Fix: Always think about how much each coin is worth, not how many there are
  • Mistake: Forgetting to convert between pence and pounds
    Why it happens: Mixing up 100p = £1 and confusing the decimal point
    Fix: Remember that £1 = 100p, so 150p = £1.50
  • Mistake: Not checking if they have enough money
    Why it happens: Not thinking ahead about costs
    Fix: Always add up all the prices before spending
  • Mistake: Confusing addition and subtraction when working out change
    Why it happens: Not understanding that change is what's left after spending
    Fix: Remember: Money - Cost = Change

Parent and carer guide

You can help your child practice train money maths in these ways:
  • Ask your child to count up the coins in your pocket or purse
  • Let them plan a small trip and calculate costs together
  • Play a "train shop" game where they have to buy items with a set budget
  • Practice with real coins at home - make a pretend train station
  • Encourage them to check their change when shopping
  • Ask questions like "How much more do you need?" or "Can you afford this?"
Remember to:
  • Keep it fun and practical
  • Don't worry if they make mistakes - it's part of learning
  • Use real coins and prices to make it concrete
  • Let them explain their thinking to you
  • Be patient with different approaches

Practice questions

  1. You have 4 x 50p coins and 3 x 20p coins. How much money do you have?
  2. A train ticket costs £2.40. You pay with a £5 note. How much change should you get?
  3. You want to buy a drink for 75p and a sandwich for £1.20. How much will it cost altogether?
  4. You have £3.00. You spend 95p on a snack. How much money do you have left?
  5. You find 2 x 10p coins and 3 x 5p coins on the platform. How much money did you find?
Answers:
  1. 4 x 50p = 200p = £2.00, 3 x 20p = 60p, Total = £2.60
  2. £5.00 - £2.40 = £2.60
  3. 75p + £1.20 = £1.95
  4. £3.00 - 95p = £2.05
  5. 2 x 10p = 20p, 3 x 5p = 15p, Total = 35p

FAQ

How do I add up coins quickly?

Group coins by value: add all the 50p coins together, then all the 20p coins, and so on. Then add those totals together.

What if I don't have enough money for something?

Check your total money first. If you're short, you can either save more or choose something cheaper. It's good to plan ahead!

Why is it important to learn about money?

Learning about money helps you understand how to buy things, save for what you want, and make smart choices. It's useful for everything from train journeys to birthday presents.

Can I use maths to save money?

Yes! You can compare prices, find the best deals, and plan how to spend your money wisely. This helps you get more for your money.

What if I make a mistake with money?

Mistakes happen - that's how we learn! The most important thing is to check your work and understand where you went wrong so you don't make the same mistake again.