In Saxon Math Intermediate 4, Grade 4 students learn to express coin values as fractions of a dollar, understanding that pennies represent 1/100, dimes represent 1/10, and quarters represent 1/4 of a dollar. The lesson also introduces students to writing these fractional amounts using dollar sign and decimal notation, such as expressing 3/10 of a dollar as $0.30. An applied problem-solving component teaches students to find all possible combinations of coins using organized lists.
Section 1
📘 Fractions of a Dollar
We may describe part of a dollar by using a fraction or by using a dollar sign and decimal point.
Next, you'll practice converting various coin amounts into their equivalent fraction and decimal forms to master this core idea.
Section 2
Coins as fractions of a dollar
Since 100 pennies equals one dollar, each penny is of a dollar. Likewise, since 20 nickels equals a dollar, each nickel is of a dollar. A dime is of a dollar and a quarter is of a dollar.
a. Three pennies are what fraction of a dollar? One penny is , so three pennies are of a dollar.
b. Three dimes are what fraction of a dollar? One dime is , so three dimes are of a dollar.
c. Three nickels are what fraction of a dollar? One nickel is , so three nickels are of a dollar.
Think of a whole dollar as a pizza with 100 slices. A coin's fraction is just its value in cents over 100. A dime is 10 cents, so it's the fraction , which simplifies to of the whole dollar pizza! This helps us see how much of a dollar we really have.
Section 3
From fractions to decimals
We may describe part of a dollar by using a fraction or by using a dollar sign and decimal point. For example, of a dollar is the same as 0.25 dollars, and of a dollar is the same as 0.30 dollars.
a. The value of seven pennies, or of a dollar, is written as 0.07 dollars.
b. A quarter is of a dollar, which is the same as 25 cents, written as 0.25 dollars.
c. The value of three quarters, or of a dollar, is written as 0.75 dollars.
Writing money as a decimal is super handy for calculators and cash registers. The fraction tells you the relationship, but the decimal tells you the exact amount in a way everyone understands instantly. Think of the decimal point as the separator between whole dollars on the left and leftover cents on the right.
Section 4
Combination
A combination is a selection of items from a set where the order of selection does not matter. Thus, listing a penny and a nickel is the same combination as listing a nickel and a penny.
a. With a penny, nickel, and dime, the possible combinations of two coins are: penny-nickel, penny-dime, and nickel-dime.
b. From a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter, the combinations of three coins are: penny-nickel-dime, penny-nickel-quarter, penny-dime-quarter, and nickel-dime-quarter.
A combination is just a fancy word for a group of things. It's all about what you have, not the order you picked them in. If you have a scoop of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, it's the same delicious combination whether they put the chocolate or the vanilla in the bowl first!
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter
Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.
Section 1
📘 Fractions of a Dollar
We may describe part of a dollar by using a fraction or by using a dollar sign and decimal point.
Next, you'll practice converting various coin amounts into their equivalent fraction and decimal forms to master this core idea.
Section 2
Coins as fractions of a dollar
Since 100 pennies equals one dollar, each penny is of a dollar. Likewise, since 20 nickels equals a dollar, each nickel is of a dollar. A dime is of a dollar and a quarter is of a dollar.
a. Three pennies are what fraction of a dollar? One penny is , so three pennies are of a dollar.
b. Three dimes are what fraction of a dollar? One dime is , so three dimes are of a dollar.
c. Three nickels are what fraction of a dollar? One nickel is , so three nickels are of a dollar.
Think of a whole dollar as a pizza with 100 slices. A coin's fraction is just its value in cents over 100. A dime is 10 cents, so it's the fraction , which simplifies to of the whole dollar pizza! This helps us see how much of a dollar we really have.
Section 3
From fractions to decimals
We may describe part of a dollar by using a fraction or by using a dollar sign and decimal point. For example, of a dollar is the same as 0.25 dollars, and of a dollar is the same as 0.30 dollars.
a. The value of seven pennies, or of a dollar, is written as 0.07 dollars.
b. A quarter is of a dollar, which is the same as 25 cents, written as 0.25 dollars.
c. The value of three quarters, or of a dollar, is written as 0.75 dollars.
Writing money as a decimal is super handy for calculators and cash registers. The fraction tells you the relationship, but the decimal tells you the exact amount in a way everyone understands instantly. Think of the decimal point as the separator between whole dollars on the left and leftover cents on the right.
Section 4
Combination
A combination is a selection of items from a set where the order of selection does not matter. Thus, listing a penny and a nickel is the same combination as listing a nickel and a penny.
a. With a penny, nickel, and dime, the possible combinations of two coins are: penny-nickel, penny-dime, and nickel-dime.
b. From a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter, the combinations of three coins are: penny-nickel-dime, penny-nickel-quarter, penny-dime-quarter, and nickel-dime-quarter.
A combination is just a fancy word for a group of things. It's all about what you have, not the order you picked them in. If you have a scoop of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, it's the same delicious combination whether they put the chocolate or the vanilla in the bowl first!
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter