What is Dollar? Definition, Example, Facts (2024)

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  • What Is a Dollar?
  • History and Origin of the Dollar
  • Solved Examples
  • Practice Problems
  • Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Dollar?

A dollar is a unit of money used in several countries like the US, Australia, Canada, and many more. The currency of the US is the United States Dollar (USD). Its symbol is $.

What is Dollar? Definition, Example, Facts (1)

What is Dollar? Definition, Example, Facts (2)Begin here

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Quarters and Half Dollar

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History and Origin of the Dollar

The word dollar comes from silver coins minted in 1518 in Bohemia. After passing through parts of Europe, and later, Spanish colonies around America, it finally arrived in the US. It was adopted as the official currency of the US in the 18th century, where it has been used ever since.

Countries Using Dollar as their Currency

  • The United States and its territories
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Hong Kong
  • Singapore
  • Canada
  • Jamaica and many more countries.

How to Write an Amount in Dollars Using Symbols

To write an amount in dollars, first write the country symbol (US) followed by the dollar sign ($ \$$) and then the dollar figure. For example, US$\$$ 25.99.

Money Bills of the US

American bills or paper currency comes in seven denominations: $\$$1, $\$$2, $\$$5, $\$$10, $\$$20, $\$$50, and $\$$100.

What is Dollar? Definition, Example, Facts (13)

Source

Some Dollar-Related Conversions

  • 1 dollar = 100 cents, so 1 cent is equal to 0.01 dollars.
  • 1 nickel = 5 cents, so 1 nickel is equal to 0.05 dollars.
  • 1 dime = 10 cents, so 1 dime is equal to 0.1 dollars.
  • 1 quarter = 25 cents, so 1 quarter is equal to 0.25 dollars.

Related Worksheets

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Solved Examples

Q1. Marilyn has 90 cents. She wants them exchanged for dimes. How many dimes will she get back?

Solution:

We know that 10 cents = 1 dime

So, 90 cents = 9 dimes

Q2. Sam donated 500 cents and Beth donated $\$$7. In total, how many dollars did they donate?

Solution:

We know that 100 cents = 1 dollar.

So, 500 cents = 5 dollars

This means Sam donated $\$5$. Also, we know that Beth donated $\$7$.

So, together they donated $\$$12 (= $\$5$ + $\$$7).

Q3. How many dimes make $\$$350?

Solution:

100 cents equals 1 dollar and 10 cents equals 1 dime.

So, 10 dimes make 1 dollar.

To make $\$$350 we will need 350 × 10 dimes. That is, 3500 dimes make $350.

Practice Problems

1

When $264.60 is divided amongst 6 people, how much does each person get?

$\$44.10$

$\$44.60$

$\$40.60$

$\$54.60$

CorrectIncorrect

Correct answer is: $\$44.10$
$\$264.60$ ÷ 6 = $\$44.10$

2

If Anna buys 2 video games at $\$130$ each. She gives 3 bills of $\$100$ to the shopkeeper. How much money should Anna get back?

$\$50$

$\$60$

$\$260$

$\$40$

CorrectIncorrect

Correct answer is: $\$40$
Cost of 1 video game = $\$130$
Cost of 2 video games = $\$260$
Amount that Anna gave to the shopkeeper = $\$300$
Amount that Anna gets back = $\$300$ – $\$260$ = $\$40$

3

Convert $\$55$ to cents.

55 cents

500 cents

5500 cents

550 cents

CorrectIncorrect

Correct answer is: 5500 cents
1 dollar = 100 cents
So, 55 dollars = 5500 cents

Handling currency is an important skill for everyone to master. To learn more about managing money with fun and exciting games, visit SplashLearn! Learn more about the dollar here.

Frequently Asked Questions

The first United States bills were published as demand notes to fund the Civil War of 1861. The notes were called greenbacks because of their green color.

The US bills are available in seven denominations: $\$$1, $\$$2, $\$$5, $\$$10, $\$$20, $\$$50, and $\$$100.

The Federal Reserve System or the Fed.

The cost of printing US bills as in 2021 ranges between $\$$6 and $\$$14. The cost of printing varies with denomination.

100 cents make 1 dollar.

What is Dollar? Definition, Example, Facts (2024)

FAQs

What is the simple definition of dollar? ›

1. countable noun. The dollar is the unit of money used in the USA, Canada, Australia, and some other countries. It is represented by the symbol $. A dollar is divided into one hundred smaller units called cents.

What is an example of a dollar? ›

To write an amount in dollars, first write the country symbol (US) followed by the dollar sign ( ) and then the dollar figure. For example, US 25.99. American bills or paper currency comes in seven denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. 1 dollar = 100 cents, so 1 cent is equal to 0.01 dollars.

What are some facts about the dollar? ›

Federal Reserve notes are a blend of 25 percent linen and 75 percent cotton. Currency paper has tiny red and blue synthetic fibers of various lengths evenly distributed throughout the paper. It would take 4,000 double folds, forwards and backwards, to tear a banknote.

How do you describe dollars? ›

The USD (United States dollar) is the official currency of the United States of America. The United States dollar, or U.S. dollar, is made up of 100 cents. It is represented by the symbol $ or US$ to differentiate it from other dollar-based currencies.

What is the real meaning of dollar? ›

'Dollar' is an anglicized form of 'thaler' , the name given to coins first minted in 1519 from silver mined locally in Joachimsthal in Bohemia. Today the town of Jáchymov lies within the borders of the Czech Republic. 'Thaler' is a shortened form of 'Joachimsthaler', the original term of the coin.

What is a dollar for kids? ›

The dollar is the United States' 100-cent coin. It takes 100 pennies to equal a dollar! It is the basic unit of money in the U.S., whether in the form of paper money or a coin.

What is an example sentence for dollars? ›

Examples of dollar in a Sentence

She had to pay hundreds of dollars in auto repairs. She put a wrinkled dollar down on the counter. The dollar dropped sharply against the pound. the strength of the dollar The dollar is worth more in Mexico.

How many 1 dime makes a dollar? ›

Relationship between Dime and Dollar

A dime is worth ¢ , which can also be written as 0.10. Therefore, 10 dimes are worth the same as 1 dollar.

Why is dollar so powerful? ›

The dollar's value comes from the US' position as a critical global economic power and the country's political and economic stability. While it may hold less value than such currencies as the Swiss franc or the British pound, the dollar's global use makes it a more commercially viable currency.

What makes a dollar? ›

Answer: 100 pennies, 20 nickels, 10 dimes, or 4 quarters; each = 1 dollar. Can you make a dollar using only 7 coins?

What is the definition of a dollar? ›

A dollar is a unit of currency or money. The United States, Canada, and Australia all use the dollar. The symbol for a dollar is $. If you say someone worships the all mighty dollar, that means they're greedy. A dollar bill is the equivalent of 100 cents.

Why is dollar called a dollar? ›

The word dollar is derived from Low Saxon cognate of the High German Thaler; the term had already been in common usage since the colonial period when it referred to eight-real coin (Spanish dollar) or the "Spanish milled dollar" issued by the Spanish from New Spain and used throughout the rest of the Americas.

What is another word for a dollar? ›

ace bill buck certificate clam note one-spot single.

How does the Constitution define a dollar? ›

The word dollar has a definite and fixed meaning. [Footnote 1] A dollar, as used in the Constitution, is a Spanish Milled dollar coin, or its equivalent, in coin form, containing 371.25 grains of fine silver.

How many 5 cents make a dollar? ›

Since each nickel is worth five cents, it would take 20 nickels to equal one dollar. This is a great way for kids to practice counting by fives and understand the concept of multiplication. You can even challenge them to see how quickly they can count out 20 nickels.

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