Dime

Definition

A dime is a United States coin with a value of ten cents, one-tenth of a dollar. It is the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in the U.S. monetary system, playing a crucial role in solving money-related applications and calculations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A dime is made of copper-nickel alloy and has a diameter of 17.91 millimeters.
2. Dimes are commonly used in everyday transactions, such as making change, calculating totals, and solving money-related problems.
3. The dime is the second-smallest coin in circulation in the United States, with the penny being the smallest.
4. The dime's value of ten cents makes it a useful unit for breaking down larger monetary amounts and performing calculations involving money.
5. Dimes are an essential component in solving various money applications, including calculating change, making purchases, and understanding the relative value of different coins.

Review Questions

• Explain how the dime's value of ten cents makes it a useful coin in solving money applications.
  • The dime's value of ten cents is advantageous in solving money applications because it allows for easy division and multiplication of larger monetary amounts. For example, when calculating change or making purchases, the dime's decimal-based value of one-tenth of a dollar facilitates the breakdown of dollar amounts into smaller, more manageable units. This makes it easier to perform calculations, determine the appropriate number of coins needed, and understand the relative value of different coins in a transaction.
• Describe how the physical characteristics of a dime, such as its size and composition, contribute to its role in money applications.
  • The physical characteristics of a dime, including its small size and copper-nickel alloy composition, make it a practical and convenient coin for use in money applications. The dime's compact size allows it to be easily handled, stored, and transacted, while its metallic composition gives it durability and resistance to wear and tear. These features enable the dime to be readily available, easily exchangeable, and consistently recognized as a valid form of currency, all of which are essential for its effective use in solving money-related problems and calculations.
• Analyze the significance of the dime's place within the United States monetary system and how it contributes to the overall understanding and management of money.
  • The dime's position as the smallest coin in circulation in the United States monetary system is crucial for its role in solving money applications. As the one-tenth unit of the dollar, the dime provides a fundamental building block for understanding and manipulating larger monetary amounts. Its decimal-based value allows for easy conversion between dollars and cents, facilitating calculations, making change, and comprehending the relative worth of different coins. Additionally, the dime's widespread use in everyday transactions reinforces its importance as a practical and essential component of the U.S. currency system, enabling individuals to effectively manage and apply their financial resources in various situations.

Related terms

Coin:

A piece of metal or plastic, typically circular in shape, that is used as money.

Dollar: The basic unit of currency in the United States, equal to one hundred cents.

Decimal:

A number system that uses ten as the base, with digits 0-9 and a decimal point to represent parts of a whole.