Money Matters
Name: __________________________
Prior to 1966, Australia used a currency based upon the British system of pounds, shillings and pence. This
system used a base of 12 and 20 rather than the simple 10 digit system that we now have with decimal
currency. It is difficult to use a calculator to add or subtract in the old system of pounds, shillings and
pence. When you have finished these activities you will understand why we converted to decimal currency.
Converting pounds, shillings and pence into dollars and cents
1d (penny)
=
1 cent
6d (sixpence)
=
5 cents
1s (shilling)
=
10 cents
£1 (pound)
=
$2.00
Converting notes into coins within the British system
10 shillings
=
1 penny
1 pound
=
threepence
5 pounds
=
sixpence
(no equivalent)
… 1 shilling
(no equivalent)
… 2 shillings
In this system, ‘pence’ is the plural of penny. 12 pence make up 1 shilling and 20 shillings make up 1 pound.
£1 (1 pound) = 20s or 20/- (20 shillings)
12d (12 pence) = 1s or 1/- (1 shilling)
Shillings and pence are written as follows:
1 shilling
1 penny
1 shilling + ten pence
=
=
=
1/1d
1/10 (read aloud as ‘one and ten’ – there is no need to mention shillings or pence)
1. Write the following words as shillings and
pence in numbers:
a) 2 shillings and 5 pence: ______________
b) 5 shillings and 9 pence: ______________
c) 14 shillings and 11 pence: ____________
2. Adding up pence – add the following coins
and convert them into shillings and pence.
E.g. 3d + 6d + 10d = 19d = 1/7 (i.e. 19d – 12d = 1s
+7d, which is written as 1/7)
a) 11d + 11d + 5d = ____________________
3. Writing and using pounds, shillings and
pence (£.s.d.) – write the following words as
shillings and pence in numbers. E.g. One
pound, ten shillings and sixpence = £1/10/6.
a) 2 pounds, 14 shillings and 11 pence:
__________________________________
b) 10 pounds, 19 shillings and 2 pence:
__________________________________
c) 25 pounds, 5 shillings and no pence:
b) 1d + 3d + 6d = ______________________
__________________________________
8d + 9d + 11d + 10d = ________________
4. Writing pounds as multiples of shillings –
pounds can also be written as multiples of
shillings. E.g. 2 pounds and 14 shillings = £2/14/-
c)
Watch a cartoon made to explain Australia’s
changeover to decimal currency on 14th February
1966 – it includes examples of calculations in both
imperial and decimal currency.
Dollar Bill and Australians Keep The Wheels Of
Industry Turning (Decimal Currency Board 1965):
http://youtu.be/5ZTeWLA1LAs (The Australian
National Film and Sound Archive’s YouTube
channel)
= 54/- (i.e. 1 pound = 20/-, so 2 pounds = 40/- +
14/- = 54/-). Convert the following into
shillings:
a) £1/5/00 = _________________________
b) £2/10/00 = ________________________
c) £3/2/00 = _________________________
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FOR MATHS WHIZZES!
More challenging activities on addition and subtraction
Addition and subtraction with pounds, shillings and pence is complex because it uses multiples of 12
(pennies) and multiples of 20 (shillings).
ADDITION – remember that 20s = £1 and 12d – 1s
E.g. ❶ No conversions are required.
N.B.: Sums are written without a stroke between
the pounds, shillings and pence.
+
£
1
2
3
s
10
5
15
E.g. ❷ Pennies must be converted into shillings
and shillings into pounds.
d
10
1
11
£
2
+ 3
6
s
17
18
16
d
8
4
00
In example ❷, 8 + 4 = 12; 12 pence make 1 shilling, leaving us with no pennies (which we write as 00, and
1 shilling that we add on to the shillings in the middle so that the addition becomes 17 + 19 = 36. 36
shillings converts to 1 pound and 16 shillings (36 - 20). We write down the 16 and add the 1 to the pounds
so that the addition becomes 2 + 4 = 6. Thus the answer is £6/16/-.
5. Calculate the following additions:
a) £
2
+ 1
s
5
6
d
6
5
_
b) £
3
+ 2
s
10
7
d
9
3
_
c) £
4
+ 6
s
12
11
d
8
7
_
An easier way to both add and subtract is to convert everything into shillings and pence. E.g.:
£2/17/8 = 57/8
£3/18/4 = 78/4
(convert the 12d to 1 shilling)
135/12 = 136/- = £6/16/00 or £6/16/-
Try doing question 5 again using this method.
a) __________
b) __________
c) __________
SUBTRACTION
Add 12d to 4 so the subtraction becomes 16 - 8
(add 1s to 17s = 18s)
E.g.:
-
£
2
1
1
s
10
5
5
d
8
7
1
or 50/8
25/7
25/1 = £1/5/1
-
£
3
2
1
s
18
17
00
d
4
8
8
6. Calculate the following subtractions:
a) £
2
- 1
_
s
5
4
d
6
5
b) £
3
+ 2
_
s
10
11
d
7
10
c) £
6
+ 4
s
11
12
d
7
8
_
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