Subtracting money
We subtract money to find the change after buying something, or how much is left after spending. Subtracting means taking one amount away from another. Take the sen away first, then the ringgit, keeping RM under RM and sen under sen.
Key idea
Change = money you give − price. 100 sen = RM1.
A worked example
Worked example
Ben has RM9. He buys a pen for RM4. How much money is left?
Take away the price: RM9 − RM4 = RM5. So Ben has RM5 left. We can check by adding: RM5 + RM4 = RM9.
With sen
RM5.80 − RM2.30: take away the sen, 80 sen − 30 sen = 50 sen; take away the ringgit, RM5 − RM2 = RM3. Answer: RM3.50. After taking away, the answer is always smaller.
Remember
- Line up RM and sen.
- Take away, don't add.
- Check by adding your answer back.