2nd Grade · Measurement & Data
2.MD.C.8: Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies
2.MD.C.8 is a 2nd grade Common Core math standard in Measurement & Data. Here’s what it really covers, and how you can help your students learn it.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
The standard
Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have?
In plain words
Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies.
Sample questions from student practice
These questions from Bobby's Math Club are the kinds of questions your students will see. You can try answering them to see what a student might see.
Question 1 of 6
You are counting your change. If you have 1 dime and 2 pennies, how many cents do you have in total?
- 12 cents
- 3 cents
- 10 cents
Where students can get stuck
Solve word problems by counting dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies.
- Counting each coin as one, so 4 mixed coins seem worth 4 cents instead of adding their values.
- Thinking a nickel is worth more than a dime because it is bigger, so 2 nickels seem worth more than 2 dimes.
- Mixing up the money symbols, writing 25$ or $25 for 25 cents, or using both signs on one amount.
Solve word problems about how much money is left.
- Adding the price to the money instead of subtracting, so having 80¢ and spending 30¢ seems to leave 110¢ instead of 50¢.
- Treating a dollar as 1 instead of 100 cents, so the change from $1 for a 60¢ snack seems impossible to find.
- Giving only the last coin as the change, so counting up from 70¢ to $1 gives 25¢ instead of 30¢.
Effective teaching strategies
- Let students trade 5 play pennies for a nickel and 2 nickels for a dime, saying each coin’s value, so they see that a coin’s size does not set its worth.
- Count a mixed set of coins by starting with the largest and skip-counting, such as 25, 35, 40, 41 for a quarter, a dime, a nickel, and a penny.
- Have students answer money stories with the correct sign, writing 23¢ for 2 dimes and 3 pennies and $1 for a dollar bill, and say where each sign goes.
Units that teach this standard
Find where 2.MD.C.8 lands in the program you teach. Each unit has a guide written for families. Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence.
Bridges in Mathematics
enVision Mathematics
Everyday Mathematics
i-Ready Classroom Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics
Into Math
Reveal Math
Don’t see your curriculum? Contact Bobby and we’ll see if we can help!
Share it with families
Each skill has its own guide for families, with a plain-language look at the skill, three questions to try together, and ideas for helping at home.
Help every student practice measurement and data at home
In Bobby's Math Club, students practice at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free for every family.
See how it works for teachers
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.