If you have $5 and an item costs $2.75, what is your change?

• A. 2.50 dollars
• B. 2.25 dollars
• C. 2.00 dollars
• D. 2.75 dollars

Answer: (B)

Change is found by subtracting the cost from the amount you have. Here, 5.00 dollars minus 2.75 dollars leaves 2.25 dollars. Thinking in cents can help: 500 cents minus 275 cents equals 225 cents, which is $2.25. So your change is $2.25. The other numbers would come from subtracting different amounts, but since the item costs 2.75, the remaining money after paying from 5.00 must be 2.25.