Know Before You Pay

Life Skills · Money · Page 1 of 4

Name Date
DIRECTIONS: Round every price to the nearest dollar and add. Is the printed total believable?
$1.99 rounds to $2, so three of them is about $6. $3.49 rounds to $3. If the till is far off your estimate, you want to know NOW.
CORNER STORE — A
3× bread @ $2.79 each $8.37
1× notebook $1.79
2× soap @ $1.49 each $2.98
TOTAL $13.14
CORNER STORE — B
3× milk @ $1.89 each $5.67
1× bananas $1.99
1× notebook $1.79
TOTAL $9.45
CORNER STORE — C
2× cheese @ $4.49 each $89.80
1× pencils $2.99
1× soap $1.49
TOTAL $94.28
My estimate
A:
B:
C:
Round each price, multiply by how many, add.
  1. Which receipt is a long way off your estimate?
  2. Look at that receipt again. Which single line is the problem, and what do you think happened at the till?

Three Ways a Receipt Goes Wrong

Life Skills · Money · Page 2 of 4

DIRECTIONS: Each has one thing wrong. Find it, and write what you are owed.
Receipt 1 — it adds up perfectly
CORNER STORE
4× bananas @ $1.99 each $9.76
2× soap @ $1.49 each $2.98
1× pasta $1.29
TOTAL $14.03
You handed over $20.00
Change given $5.97
Add the column down: it comes to the printed total. So check a different way — work out each line yourself from how many × the price each.
Wrong line:   It should say:
Receipt 2 — this is what you actually put in the basket
In the basket: 3 × bananas, 1 × pencils, 1 × batteries
CORNER STORE
3× bananas @ $1.99 each $5.97
1× pencils $2.99
1× batteries $5.49
1× apples $3.49
TOTAL $17.94
You handed over $20.00
Change given $2.06
On the receipt and not in the bag:   You are owed:

The One the Paper Cannot Tell You

Life Skills · Money · Page 3 of 4

DIRECTIONS: Every printed line is right. Count up the change yourself, then compare.
Receipt 3 — every line correct, every sum correct
CORNER STORE
3× rice @ $2.59 each $7.77
1× bananas $1.99
TOTAL $9.76
You handed over $20.00
You should get back
Now count up to check it.
Start atGo up toThat jump
$9.76 $9.80
$9.80 $10.00
$10.00 $20.00
Add the jumps
What you were actually handed: $9.24.
Short by:

The Difference Between Them

Life Skills · Money · Page 4 of 4

  1. Receipts 1 and 2 could both be found by looking at the paper. Receipt 3 could not. Explain the difference to somebody who has never thought about it.
  2. What is the one thing you have to do before the change is handed over, if you want to be able to check it at all?
  3. You find a mistake and it is in your favor — they gave you too much. What should you do, and why is it the same answer as when it goes the other way?