Converting Uganda Shillings to Other Currencies

P6 Mathematics - Term II, Topic 7

Lesson 2 of 4

Learning Objectives:

• Convert Uganda Shillings to US Dollars, British Pounds, Kenyan Shillings, and Tanzanian Shillings
• Use exchange rates correctly in conversion calculations
• Describe the steps of converting Uganda currency to another currency
• Solve word problems involving currency conversion

Quick Review: Exchange Rates

Keep this chart visible today!

Today's Big Question: How Many Dollars?

If someone has 7,500 Uganda Shillings and wants to change it to US Dollars, how many dollars will they get?

Let's think:

• We have 7,500 Shs
• We want ? USD
• Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3,750 Shs

What operation should we use?

Understanding Which Way We Convert

Converting FROM Uganda Shillings TO Foreign Currency

We start with: UGX (Uganda Shillings)
We want to get: Foreign currency (USD, GBP, KES, or TZS)

Example:

• Start: 15,000 Shs
• Want: ? US Dollars

Today's focus: UGX → Foreign Currency

The Key Rule: When to Divide

Converting UGX to Foreign Currency = DIVIDE

Why divide?

• The rate tells us: "How many UGX = 1 foreign unit" (1 USD = 3,750 Shs)
• We ask: "How many groups of 3,750 fit our total?" - division!

Formula:
Foreign Currency = Uganda Shillings ÷ Exchange Rate

Worked Example 1: UGX to USD

Problem: Convert 15,000 Uganda Shillings to US Dollars

STEP 1 - UNDERSTAND:

• Have: 15,000 UGX. Want: US Dollars.
• Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3,750 Shs

STEP 2 - PLAN:

• Divide UGX by the exchange rate: 15,000 ÷ 3,750

Worked Example 1: UGX to USD (continued)

STEP 3 - WORK:
15,000 ÷ 3,750 = 4

Working:

  3,750 | 15,000
         15,000
         ------
             0

STEP 4 - ANSWER:

• Check: 4 USD × 3,750 = 15,000 Shs ✓
• Answer: 15,000 Uganda Shillings = 4 US Dollars

Worked Example 2: UGX to GBP

Problem: Convert 24,250 Uganda Shillings to British Pounds

UNDERSTAND:

• Have: 24,250 UGX
• Want: GBP
• Rate: 1 GBP = 4,850 Shs

PLAN:

• Divide: 24,250 ÷ 4,850

WORK:

• 24,250 ÷ 4,850 = 5

ANSWER:

• 24,250 Uganda Shillings = 5 British Pounds

Worked Example 3: UGX to KES

Problem: Convert 1,450 Uganda Shillings to Kenyan Shillings

UNDERSTAND:

• Have: 1,450 UGX
• Want: KES
• Rate: 1 KES = 29 Shs

PLAN:

• Divide: 1,450 ÷ 29

WORK:

• 1,450 ÷ 29 = 50

ANSWER:

• 1,450 Uganda Shillings = 50 Kenyan Shillings

Why Do We Divide? Let's Visualize

If 1 USD = 3,750 Shs, then:

• 3,750 Shs = 1 USD (one group)
• 7,500 Shs = 2 USD (two groups)
• 11,250 Shs = 3 USD (three groups)
• 15,000 Shs = 4 USD (four groups)

Division counts the groups!

Your Turn: Practice Problem 1

Problem: Convert 11,250 Uganda Shillings to US Dollars
(Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3,750 Shs)

Work individually in your exercise book:

• Use the four-step method
• Show all your working
• Check your answer by multiplying back

You have 2 minutes!

Answer: Practice Problem 1 ✓

Solution:

UNDERSTAND: 11,250 UGX → ? USD, Rate: 1 USD = 3,750 Shs

PLAN: Divide: 11,250 ÷ 3,750

WORK: 11,250 ÷ 3,750 = 3

ANSWER: 11,250 Uganda Shillings = 3 US Dollars

Check: 3 × 3,750 = 11,250 ✓

Word Problem 1: Traveling to Kenya

Problem:
Maria is traveling to Kenya for a wedding. She changes 2,900 Uganda Shillings to Kenyan Shillings. How many Kenyan Shillings will she receive?
(1 KES = 29 Shs)

Let's solve together using the four steps!

Word Problem 1: Full Worked Solution

UNDERSTAND:

• Maria has 2,900 UGX, wants KES
• Exchange rate: 1 KES = 29 Shs

PLAN:

• Divide: 2,900 ÷ 29

WORK:

• 2,900 ÷ 29 = 100

ANSWER:
Maria will receive 100 Kenyan Shillings

Word Problem 2: Pair Work

Problem:
John wants to buy goods from Tanzania. He has 8,000 Uganda Shillings. How many Tanzanian Shillings will he get?
(1 TZS = 1.60 Shs)

Work in pairs:

• Discuss each step together
• Both partners write the solution
• Be ready to share your answer

You have 3 minutes!

Word Problem 2: Solution ✓

UNDERSTAND:

• John has: 8,000 UGX
• Wants: TZS
• Rate: 1 TZS = 1.60 Shs

PLAN:

• Divide: 8,000 ÷ 1.60

WORK:

• 8,000 ÷ 1.60 = 5,000

ANSWER:
John will get 5,000 Tanzanian Shillings

Note: He gets more TZS than his UGX because TZS is weaker!

Word Problem 3: Individual Practice

Problem:
A tourist from Uganda wants to change 30,000 Uganda Shillings to US Dollars. How many dollars will she get?
(1 USD = 3,750 Shs)

Work individually:

• Use the four-step method
• Show all working clearly
• Write a complete sentence for your answer

You have 3 minutes!

Word Problem 3: Solution ✓

UNDERSTAND: Tourist has 30,000 UGX, wants USD. Rate: 1 USD = 3,750 Shs

PLAN: Divide: 30,000 ÷ 3,750

WORK: 30,000 ÷ 3,750 = 8

ANSWER: The tourist will get 8 US Dollars

Complete sentence: She receives 8 US Dollars for 30,000 Uganda Shillings.

Steps for Converting UGX to Foreign Currency

1. Identify the amount in Uganda Shillings
2. Find the exchange rate
3. Divide the Uganda Shillings by the rate
4. Check by multiplying back
5. Write a complete answer with units

Why divide? We're counting groups of the rate in our total!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Multiplying instead of dividing

• ✗ 15,000 × 3,750 = 56,250,000
• ✓ 15,000 ÷ 3,750 = 4

Mistake 2: Forgetting the exchange rate

• ✓ Always check the exchange rate chart

Mistake 3: Not checking your answer

• ✓ Always multiply back to verify!

Quick Practice: Choose the Operation

For each problem, say DIVIDE or MULTIPLY:

1. Convert 20,000 Shs to USD → ?
2. Convert 10 USD to Shs → ?
3. Convert 5,800 Shs to KES → ?
4. Convert 100 KES to Shs → ?

Think: Are we starting with UGX or foreign currency?

Answers: Choose the Operation ✓

1. Convert 20,000 Shs to USD → DIVIDE
2. Convert 10 USD to Shs → MULTIPLY (tomorrow!)
3. Convert 5,800 Shs to KES → DIVIDE
4. Convert 100 KES to Shs → MULTIPLY (tomorrow!)

Rule: UGX → Foreign = DIVIDE. Foreign → UGX = MULTIPLY (tomorrow)

Summary: Converting UGX to Foreign Currency

✓ Converting UGX to foreign currency means DIVIDE

✓ Formula: Foreign Currency = UGX ÷ Exchange Rate

✓ Four-step method: UNDERSTAND - PLAN - WORK - ANSWER

✓ Always check by multiplying back!

Looking Ahead to Tomorrow's Lesson

Lesson 3 Preview:

• Converting FOREIGN CURRENCY to UGX
• The opposite of today's lesson
• We'll use MULTIPLICATION instead of division
• Example: If you have 5 USD, how many Shs?

Keep practicing division today so multiplication is easier tomorrow!

Assessment: Converting UGX to Foreign Currency

Complete in your exercise book:

1. Convert 18,750 Uganda Shillings to US Dollars (1 USD = 3,750 Shs)

2. Convert 19,400 Uganda Shillings to British Pounds (1 GBP = 4,850 Shs)

3. Convert 580 Uganda Shillings to Kenyan Shillings (1 KES = 29 Shs)

Assessment: Word Problem and Reflection

4. A teacher is traveling to the United States. She changes 22,500 Uganda Shillings to US Dollars. How many dollars will she receive?

5. Describe in your own words the steps to convert Uganda Shillings to another currency.

You have 5 minutes total.

Homework: More Conversion Practice

Complete these conversions showing the four-step method:

1. Convert 18,750 Uganda Shillings to US Dollars (1 USD = 3,750 Shs)

2. Convert 14,550 Uganda Shillings to British Pounds (1 GBP = 4,850 Shs)

3. Convert 1,160 Uganda Shillings to Kenyan Shillings (1 KES = 29 Shs)

Homework: Word Problems and Challenge

4. Sarah changes 4,800 UGX to Tanzanian Shillings for a trip. How many TZS? (1 TZS = 1.60 Shs)

5. A businessman changes 8,700 UGX to pay a Kenyan supplier. How many KES? (1 KES = 29 Shs)

Challenge: With 50,000 UGX, more KES or TZS?

Expected time: 20-25 minutes