Decimal games with money

Quick answer

Decimal games with money help you learn to compare and calculate decimals by playing shop games where you buy items, count money, and work out prices. You'll get better at understanding how much things cost when prices are in pounds and pence.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to:

• Compare prices using decimals (like £1.50 and £1.75)
• Add up prices in pounds and pence
• Understand how decimal points show parts of a pound
• Play a shop game to practice your decimal skills

Why this matters

Decimals with money are super useful! When you go shopping, you need to know how much things cost. Prices like £2.99 or £1.25 use decimals. You'll use this skill when:

• Buying your lunch at school
• Counting your pocket money
• Planning how much you can spend
• Working out how much change you should get

Understanding decimals helps you become good at maths and makes shopping easier and more fun!

How it works

Decimals with money work like this:

1. Prices are shown with a decimal point like £2.50
2. The number before the decimal point is pounds (£2)
3. The number after the decimal point is pence (50p)
4. You can compare prices by looking at pounds first, then pence
5. You can add prices together to find totals

Let's look at how this works with real examples.

Examples you can see

Here are some examples of decimal games with money:

Example 1: Comparing Prices

Imagine you are looking at two toy prices:

• Toy A costs £3.45
• Toy B costs £3.75

Which is more expensive?

1. Look at the pounds first: both have £3
2. Look at the pence: 45p vs 75p
3. 75p is more than 45p
4. So Toy B costs more

Example 2: Adding Prices

Let's say you want to buy:

• A pencil for £0.85
• A notebook for £1.20

How much will it cost altogether?

1. Add the pounds: £0 + £1 = £1
2. Add the pence: 85p + 20p = 105p
3. 105p = £1.05
4. Total: £1 + £1.05 = £2.05

Example 3: Shopping Game

Let's play a simple shop game:

1. You have £5.00
2. You buy a book for £2.30
3. You buy a pen for £0.75
4. How much do you have left?

Solution:

1. £2.30 + £0.75 = £3.05
2. £5.00 - £3.05 = £1.95

Try it as a mini adventure

Imagine you are a shop owner in a magical land where everything costs in decimals! You need to run your shop and make sure customers get the right change.

Adventure Challenge: The Magical Shop

You have a shop with these items:

• Sparkle gum: £0.35
• Dragon candy: £1.20
• Wizard wand: £2.75
• Unicorn horn: £3.50

Customer 1 buys 2 sparkle gums and 1 dragon candy. How much do they pay?

1. 2 × £0.35 = £0.70
2. £0.70 + £1.20 = £1.90

Customer 2 buys 1 wizard wand and 1 unicorn horn. How much do they pay?

1. £2.75 + £3.50 = £6.25

Customer 3 buys 3 unicorn horns. How much do they pay?

1. 3 × £3.50 = £10.50

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking £1.50 is less than £1.25
• Why it happens: Confusing the decimal point position
• Fix: Always look at pounds first, then pence

• Mistake: Adding pence like normal numbers (45p + 30p = 75p)
• Why it happens: Not understanding that 100p = £1
• Fix: Remember that 100p = £1, so 105p = £1.05

• Mistake: Forgetting to write the decimal point
• Why it happens: Not being careful with place value
• Fix: Always write prices with a decimal point like £2.50

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child with decimal games with money is easy and fun! Here's how in 5-10 minutes:

• Use real coins and notes when shopping to show how decimals work
• Play a simple game: "Let's pretend we're at the shop!"
• Ask questions like: "Which costs more? What's the total?"
• Don't worry if they make mistakes – they're learning!
• Keep it short and fun – don't make it feel like work
• Encourage them to explain their thinking
• Use games or apps that involve money and decimals
• Point out decimals in real life: "That's £2.99, which is nearly £3"
• Don't rush – take time to check their answers together
• Give praise for trying, not just getting right answers

Practice questions

1. Which is more expensive: £2.35 or £2.50?
2. Add: £1.25 + £0.80
3. How much is 3 × £0.45?
4. What is £5.00 - £2.75?
5. Compare: £1.99 and £2.00

Answers:

1. £2.50 is more expensive
2. £2.05
3. £1.35
4. £2.25
5. £1.99 is less than £2.00

FAQ

What does the decimal point mean in money?

The decimal point separates pounds from pence. So £2.50 means 2 pounds and 50 pence.

Why do we use decimals with money?

Decimals help us show exactly how much money we have or need. It's easier to write £2.50 than 2 pounds and 50 pence.

Can I use decimals with any money?

Yes! Whether you use coins, notes, or digital money, decimals work the same way.

How can I practice decimals with money at home?

You can play shop games, count your pocket money, or look at prices in the shop with your child.

What if I find decimals hard?

That's okay! Practice with coins and notes, and use games to make it fun. Everyone learns at their own pace.