Writing Checks

Date: 07/31/2002 at 15:24:57
From: Christina Mata
Subject: Check writing

I am having trouble writing out a basic check. I need to know how you 
write out the cents part and what is the correct way to do it.

I did not find this in the archives and need to know the proper way.
It is for standard personal checks from my bank.  

Thank you. 
CM

Date: 07/31/2002 at 15:43:35
From: Doctor Peterson
Subject: Re: Check writing

Hi, Christina.

People do this in several slightly different ways, but probably the 
most common way is like this (for $345.75):

    Three hundred forty-five and 75/100 ---------------- dollars

That is, you write out the dollars in words, then write "and" 
followed by the number of cents (usually in digits), followed by 
"/100" (making this a number of hundredths of a dollar) and a line 
through the rest of the space to ensure that it won't be filled in by 
someone else.

You might enjoy these sites, which explain in more detail:

   Checkbook Basics - aboutchecking.com
   http://www.aboutchecking.com/yourcheckingacct/yca_train.asp 

   Banking - MichiganTech
   http://www.mtu.edu/cie/is/banking.html 

   Check Writing Tutorial - Mazuma Credit Union
   http://www.mazuma.org/checks1.shtml 

I found them by going to Google.com and entering the phrase (in 
quotes) "how to write a check" . Lots of other banks want to teach you 
this skill, too!

If you have any further questions, feel free to write back.

- Doctor Peterson, The Math Forum
  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/