Grade 7 Mathematics MEASUREMENT – Money Notes
MEASUREMENT — Money
Subject: Mathematics | Age: 12 years | Context: Kenya
- Know Kenyan money denominations (coins & notes).
- Add, subtract and compare amounts of money.
- Work out change, totals, unit prices and simple budgeting.
KSh — Kenyan Shilling
Denomination — value of a coin or note
Change — money returned after paying too much
Coins
KSh 1 • KSh 5 • KSh 10 • KSh 20
Banknotes
KSh 50 • KSh 100 • KSh 200 • KSh 500 • KSh 1000
Note
1 shilling = 100 cents (cents rarely used now). Prices can be written as KSh 20 or KSh 20.00
KSh1
KSh5
KSh10
KSh100
KSh500
- Add or subtract shillings like whole numbers when amounts have no cents: e.g. KSh 50 + KSh 120 = KSh 170.
- If there are cents, line up the decimal points and add/subtract as with decimals: e.g. KSh 12.50 + KSh 3.75 = KSh 16.25.
- To make change: subtract the amount paid minus the cost. Example: pay KSh 500 for a KSh 275 item → change = 500 − 275 = KSh 225.
- Multiplication for many items: total = price × quantity. Example: KSh 20 × 6 mandazis = KSh 120.
- Division to share or find unit price: If KSh 360 is split among 4 students → each pays 360 ÷ 4 = KSh 90.
Example 1 — School canteen:
Tea = KSh 20, Mandazi = KSh 15. You buy 1 tea and 2 mandazis. How much do you pay?
Solution:
Cost of tea = KSh 20
Cost of 2 mandazis = 2 × 15 = KSh 30
Total = 20 + 30 = KSh 50
Example 2 — Change from KSh 200:
You buy groceries costing KSh 137. How much change do you get if you pay with KSh 200?
Solution:
Change = 200 − 137 = KSh 63
Example 3 — Sharing fare:
Matatu fare to town is KSh 80 per person. If 4 friends share the cost of a taxi that costs KSh 320, how much does each pay?
Solution:
Each pays 320 ÷ 4 = KSh 80
- Ali buys a loaf for KSh 85 and milk for KSh 45. How much did he spend?
- Grace pays KSh 1000 for items costing KSh 763. Find her change.
- A packet of maize flour costs KSh 240. How many packets can you buy with KSh 1,000 and how much is left?
- You buy 3 sodas at KSh 60 each and 2 samosas at KSh 30 each. What is the total?
- Unit price: 5 kg rice costs KSh 2,400. What is the cost of 1 kg?
- 1: 85 + 45 = KSh 130.
- 2: Change = 1000 − 763 = KSh 237.
- 3: 1000 ÷ 240 = 4 packets (4 × 240 = 960), remainder 1000 − 960 = KSh 40.
- 4: 3×60 = 180, 2×30 = 60, total = 180 + 60 = KSh 240.
- 5: 2400 ÷ 5 = KSh 480 per kg.
- Round numbers to check estimates: KSh 198 ≈ KSh 200.
- Use multiplication tables: to add many identical items, multiply price by quantity.
- When giving change, break down the change using large notes first (KSh 500, 200, 100...).
- Write amounts neatly with KSh and decimals when cents are present: KSh 12.50
You have KSh 1000. You buy a book for KSh 345, a lunch for KSh 120 and a bus ticket for KSh 80. After these purchases you want to buy as many sweets at KSh 15 each as possible. How many sweets can you buy and how much will you have left?
Solution hint:
First find money left after first three purchases, then divide by 15.