Concept 6 of 7
Money from a Picture: Count Notes & Coins
Today's big idea
Add the notes into one total and the coins into another, then combine the two.
Keeping notes and coins apart is what stops a ₹100 note slipping through.
How it works
👀 What's going on?
Some money questions never tell you the amount. They just show the notes and coins and expect you to read them off. A shop counter works exactly the same way.
💡 Here's the trick
Look at the money above. Add the notes first: 100 + 100 + 50 = 250. Then the coins: 10 + 10 + 10 = 30. Putting the two parts together gives ₹280. Notes with notes and coins with coins keeps the numbers tidy.
🪄 How to do it
- 1.Read the notes in the picture above and add them into one total.
- 2.Add all the coins into a second total, kept separate.
- 3.Combine the two totals, then subtract the price if change is asked for.
✍️ Try it
A picture shows one ₹200 note, two ₹20 notes and four ₹5 coins. How much money is shown? Now a harder one. A purse holds three ₹50 notes and five ₹2 coins. You spend ₹120 on a book. How much is left?
First picture: notes 200 + 40 = 240, coins 4 × 5 = 20, so the total is ₹260. Purse: notes 3 × 50 = 150, coins 5 × 2 = 10, so it holds ₹160. Take the book away: 160 − 120 = ₹40.
⚠️ Watch out
You might be thinking the bigger pile is always worth more. Six ₹10 coins come to ₹60. One thin ₹500 note beats all six of them. Count what the money is worth, never how many pieces there are.
🌟 Why this matters
A shop counter, a birthday envelope and a money box all work like this. Counting your own savings is the very same job. Muddle the notes in with the coins and one slip loses ₹100 without you noticing. Keeping the two piles apart is what makes it safe.
Exam tip: When a picture asks for change, finish the whole total first, because the price comes off only once at the end.
Watch me solve one
Quanta solves it
“Watch how I think through one of these — then you try.”
THE PROBLEM
“A purse has three ₹50 notes and two ₹10 coins. How much money in all?”
- 1
Add the notes
50 + 50 + 50 = ₹150. 💵
- 2
Add the coins
10 + 10 = ₹20. 🪙
- 3
Combine both parts
150 + 20 = 170
- 4
Total ✓
Total money = ₹170
Now you try one — same steps, different story 👇
See it in action
⚡ Time to play!
Tap each note and coin to count it up. How much money is here?
COUNT THE CASH · ROUND 1 OF 3
Quick check
✅ VERIFICATION
A picture shows two ₹100 notes, one ₹20 note and some ₹5 coins. Altogether it is ₹235. How many ₹5 coins are in the picture?
⚡ Finish the activity above first to answer.
Keep going!
Up next: Money Word Problems
Find the total, the cost, or the change.