X Tables
Times Tables Real Life

5 times table in real life: counting coins

Use counting coins to make the 5 times table concrete, funny and memorable.

Quick answer

The 5 times table in real life is all around us when we count coins – like 5p, 10p, 15p, 20p and so on. You can count by 5s using 5p coins to learn your 5 times table easily.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to count in 5s using coins and know your 5 times table up to 12 x 5. Success signs:
  • You can count 5p coins and say how much money you have
  • You can work out 5 x 4, 5 x 7, and 5 x 12 quickly
  • You can solve simple problems like “How many 5p coins make 35p?”
  • You can use 5s to help you count other things like fingers or groups

Why this matters

Learning the 5 times table helps you count money faster, especially with 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins. It helps you know how much things cost, how much change you get, and how to save your pocket money. When you know 5 x 5 = 25, you know that 5 five-pence coins make 25 pence. This makes shopping, saving, and sharing money much easier.

How it works

Counting in 5s is like jumping on a number line. Every time you jump, you go up by 5. So:
  • 0 jumps = 0p
  • 1 jump = 5p
  • 2 jumps = 10p
  • 3 jumps = 15p
  • 4 jumps = 20p
  • 5 jumps = 25p
  • 6 jumps = 30p
  • 7 jumps = 35p
  • 8 jumps = 40p
  • 9 jumps = 45p
  • 10 jumps = 50p
  • 11 jumps = 55p
  • 12 jumps = 60p
You can use 5p coins to count along this line. If you have 4 coins, you count: 5, 10, 15, 20. That means 4 x 5 = 20p.

Examples you can see

Here are some real-life examples using 5p coins:
Number of 5p Coins Counting in 5s Total Amount
1 5 5p
2 5, 10 10p
3 5, 10, 15 15p
4 5, 10, 15, 20 20p
5 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 25p
6 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 30p
7 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 35p
8 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 40p
9 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 45p
10 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 50p
11 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 55p
12 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 60p
You can also use 5p coins to make a fun game. For example, if you have 3 coins, you know it’s 15p. If you have 7 coins, it’s 35p.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Coin Collector’s Quest You are a coin collector, and you want to find out how much money you have. You collect 5p coins. Here’s your mission:
  • 1st time: You find 1 coin. How much is it worth?
  • 2nd time: You find 2 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 3rd time: You find 3 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 4th time: You find 4 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 5th time: You find 5 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 6th time: You find 6 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 7th time: You find 7 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 8th time: You find 8 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 9th time: You find 9 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 10th time: You find 10 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 11th time: You find 11 coins. How much is it worth?
  • 12th time: You find 12 coins. How much is it worth?
Each time you find a coin, count by 5s to find the total. Can you finish the quest and know how much money you’ve collected?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 5 x 5 = 20 instead of 25
    Why it happens: Confusing 5 + 5 = 10 with 5 x 5
    Fix: Use 5p coins to count 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 to see that 5 x 5 = 25
  • Mistake: Counting 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 as 12 numbers
    Why it happens: Not knowing 12 x 5 = 60
    Fix: Practice counting 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 to see it’s 12 jumps
  • Mistake: Mixing up 5 x 3 = 15 and 5 x 4 = 20
    Why it happens: Not using visual aids like coins
    Fix: Use 5p coins to make groups and see that 3 groups of 5 = 15

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Playing counting games with 5p coins at home or in the shop
  • Using real coins to practice 5 x 1 to 5 x 12
  • Encouraging your child to count aloud as they collect coins
  • Using 5p coins to show how 5 x 5 = 25, 5 x 6 = 30, etc.
  • Practising skip counting by 5s using fingers or a number line
You can say: “Let’s count how much 8 five-pence coins make. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40. That’s 40p!” This helps your child see how multiplication works in real life.

Practice questions

  1. How much money is 3 five-pence coins?
  2. How much money is 7 five-pence coins?
  3. How much money is 9 five-pence coins?
  4. How much money is 11 five-pence coins?
  5. How much money is 12 five-pence coins?
  6. What is 5 x 5?
  7. What is 5 x 8?
  8. What is 5 x 10?
  9. What is 5 x 12?
  10. How many 5p coins make 50p?
Answers:
  1. 15p
  2. 35p
  3. 45p
  4. 55p
  5. 60p
  6. 25
  7. 40
  8. 50
  9. 60
  10. 10 coins

FAQ

Why is the 5 times table useful?

The 5 times table helps you count money faster, especially with 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins. It helps you know how much things cost and how much change you get.

How can I practice the 5 times table?

You can use 5p coins to count and see how many pence you have. You can also count by 5s on a number line or use your fingers to help.

What if I forget 5 x 7?

You can count 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 to see that 5 x 7 = 35. Or use 7 groups of 5p coins to see the total.

Can I use the 5 times table for other things?

Yes! You can use 5s to count fingers, jump rope, or even count in 5s when you’re playing games.

How can I make learning 5 times table fun?

Try collecting 5p coins and counting them. Or play a game where you say how much money you have after finding 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 coins.