diff --git a/R/asis-nodes.R b/R/asis-nodes.R
index 57ae8f4..122df29 100644
--- a/R/asis-nodes.R
+++ b/R/asis-nodes.R
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ protect_inline_math <- function(body, ns) {
   }
 
   # protect math that is broken across lines or markdown elements
-  if (length(bmath)) {
+  if (length(bmath) > 0) {
     if (any(broke$ambiguous)) {
       # ambiguous math may be due to inline r code that produces an answer:
       # $R^2 = `r runif(1)`$
@@ -140,8 +140,6 @@ protect_inline_math <- function(body, ns) {
       )
       headless <- headless | has_inline_code
     }
-    # If the lengths of the beginning and ending tags don't match, we throw
-    # an error.
     le <- length(bmath[endless])
     lh <- length(bmath[headless])
     # 2024-10-10: if the number of headless OR endless tags is zero, then we
@@ -149,6 +147,19 @@ protect_inline_math <- function(body, ns) {
     if (lh == 0 || le == 0) {
       return(copy_xml(body))
     }
+    # 2024-10-15: if the number of headless tags is _less_ than the number of
+    # endless tags, then we _might_ be dealing with currency and should try to
+    # trim them out. 
+    if (le > lh) {
+      trm <- remove_money(bmath, endless, headless) 
+      bmath <- trm$bmath
+      endless <- trm$endless
+      headless <- trm$headless
+      lh <- trm$lh
+      le <- trm$le
+    }
+    # If the lengths of the beginning and ending tags don't match, we throw
+    # an error.
     if (le != lh) {
       unbalanced_math_error(bmath, endless, headless, le, lh)
     }
@@ -163,6 +174,58 @@ protect_inline_math <- function(body, ns) {
   copy_xml(body)
 }
 
+# remove the non-math from the math. 
+remove_money <- function(bmath, endless, headless) {
+  actual_math <- toss_broken_teeth(endless, headless)
+  bmath <- bmath[actual_math]
+  endless <- endless[actual_math]
+  headless <- headless[actual_math]
+  lh <- length(bmath[headless])
+  le <- length(bmath[endless])
+  return(list(
+    bmath = bmath,
+    endless = endless,
+    headless = headless,
+    lh = lh,
+    le = le
+  ))
+}
+
+# Imagine a zipper. Every tooth fits in a groove directly opposite. If there
+# is a mistake and there is an extra tooth on one side, the zipper gets stuck.
+# the solution is to remove that tooth to realign the zipper.
+#
+# This function takes two logical vectors assuming the following:
+#
+# 1. endless starts with TRUE
+# 2. headless ends with TRUE
+# 3. endless and headless are the same length
+# @param endless [logical] vector indicating broken math elements that
+#   have no ending pair
+# @param headless [logical] vector of the same length as `endless` indicating
+#   broken math elements that have no opening pair.
+toss_broken_teeth <- function(endless, headless) {
+  if (length(endless) < 2) {
+    # EXIT CASE -----------------------------------------------
+    # less than 2 either returns FALSE or logical(0)
+    return(logical(length(endless)) == 2)
+  } else if (endless[1] == headless[2]) {
+    # CASE 1: MATCHING PAIRS ----------------------------------
+    # When the pairs match, these are likely broken math
+    # and we increment by two to move to the next pair
+    result <- c(TRUE, TRUE)
+    idx <- -(1:2)
+  } else {
+    # CASE 2: MISMATCHED PAIRS --------------------------------
+    # When the pairs do not match, it's not likely broken math, 
+    # so we toss it and move to the next element. 
+    result <- FALSE
+    idx <- -1
+  }
+  # return the result and iterate over the rest of the vector
+  return(c(result, toss_broken_teeth(endless[idx], headless[idx])))
+}
+
 # Partial inline math are math elements that are not entirely embedded in a
 # single `<text>` element. There are two reasons for this:
 #
diff --git a/man/isolate_nodes.Rd b/man/isolate_nodes.Rd
index 33ce12c..380e07c 100644
--- a/man/isolate_nodes.Rd
+++ b/man/isolate_nodes.Rd
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ as a list of paragraphs.
 }
 }
 \examples{
-\dontshow{if (isTRUE(as.logical(Sys.getenv("NOT_CRAN", "false")))) withAutoprint(\{ # examplesIf}
+\dontshow{if (isTRUE(as.logical(Sys.getenv("NOT_CRAN", "false")))) (if (getRversion() >= "3.4") withAutoprint else force)(\{ # examplesIf}
 path <- system.file("extdata", "show-example.md", package = "tinkr")
 y <- tinkr::yarn$new(path, sourcepos = TRUE)
 y$protect_math()$protect_curly()
diff --git a/man/provision_isolation.Rd b/man/provision_isolation.Rd
index 0764da3..c1c22b9 100644
--- a/man/provision_isolation.Rd
+++ b/man/provision_isolation.Rd
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ we can filter on nodes that are not connected to those present in the
 nodelist. This function is required for \code{\link[=isolate_nodes]{isolate_nodes()}} to work.
 }
 \examples{
-\dontshow{if (isTRUE(as.logical(Sys.getenv("NOT_CRAN", "false")))) withAutoprint(\{ # examplesIf}
+\dontshow{if (isTRUE(as.logical(Sys.getenv("NOT_CRAN", "false")))) (if (getRversion() >= "3.4") withAutoprint else force)(\{ # examplesIf}
 path <- system.file("extdata", "show-example.md", package = "tinkr")
 y <- tinkr::yarn$new(path, sourcepos = TRUE)
 y$protect_math()$protect_curly()
diff --git a/man/rmd-fragments/format-latex.Rmd b/man/rmd-fragments/format-latex.Rmd
index 777d77a..014be8f 100644
--- a/man/rmd-fragments/format-latex.Rmd
+++ b/man/rmd-fragments/format-latex.Rmd
@@ -19,31 +19,17 @@ Note, however, that there are a few caveats for this:
 1. The dollar notation for inline math must be adjacent to the text. E.G. 
    `$\alpha$` is valid, but `$ \alpha$` and `$\alpha $` are not valid.
 2. We do not currently have support for bracket notation
-3. If you use a postfix dollar sign in your prose (e.g. BASIC commands or a Burroughs-Wheeler Transformation demonstration),
-you must be sure to either use punctuation after the trailing dollar sign OR format the text as code.
-(i.e. `` `INKEY$` `` is good, but `INKEY$` by itself is not good and will be interpreted as LaTeX code, throwing an error:
-    ```{r, basic, error = TRUE}
-    path <- system.file("extdata", "basic-math.md", package = "tinkr")
-    math <- tinkr::yarn$new(path)
-    math$head(15) # malformed
-    math$protect_math() #error
-    ```
-4. **use of `$` as currency will still work**, but there is a caveat that mixing
-   this inline math broken across lines will cause problems:
-   ```{r, split, error = TRUE}
-   # this will be mal-formed
-   bad <- "It's 5:45 and I've got $5.45 in my pocket.\nThe __area of a circle__ is $A =\n \\pi r^2$, where\n$\\pi$ is irrational when it hasn't had its coffee."
-   fails <- tinkr::yarn$new(textConnection(bad))
-   fails$show()
-   fails$
-     protect_math()$
-     show()
-   # This works
-   good <- "It's 5:45 and I've got $5.45 in my pocket.\nThe __area of a circle__ is $A = \\pi r^2$, where\n$\\pi$ is irrational when it hasn't had its coffee."
-   works <- tinkr::yarn$new(textConnection(good))
-   works$show()
-   works$
-     protect_math()$
-     show()
+3. Use of `$` as currency will still work. There are a few caveats:
+   1. The search for math is greedy, so currency may be extracted along with
+      the math unless a markdown element separates them:
+      ```{r}
+      # no separator, math is detected at the beginning of the line.
+      ex <- textConnection("$5 for a $\\pi$")
+      tinkr::yarn$new(ex)$protect_math()$get_protected()
+      # With an emph separator
+      ex <- textConnection("$5 for _any_ $\\pi$")
+      tinkr::yarn$new(ex)$protect_math()$get_protected()
+      ```
+   2. Postfix dollar signs (e.g. using BASIC code demostrations) should be
+      protected with backtics, or it will cause an error.
 
-   ```
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/asis-nodes.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/asis-nodes.md
index 9eed3f9..261c997 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/asis-nodes.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/asis-nodes.md
@@ -1,4 +1,62 @@
-# mal-formed inline math throws an informative error
+# (#121) money dollars mixed with broken math don't break
+
+    Code
+      show_user(dollar_math$show(), force = TRUE)
+    Output
+      ---
+      title: "Dollar as currency mixed with math"
+      ---
+      
+      ## currency and ambiguous math
+      
+      I've got $5.45 and $A = `r runif(1)`$
+      
+      ## currency and math on the same line
+      
+      Math that starts on the dollar: I've got $5.45 and $A = \pi r^2$.
+      
+      Math that starts at the equation: I've got $5.45 *and* $A = \pi r^2$.
+      
+      ## broken math trailing currency
+      
+      The area of a circle is $A =
+      \pi r^2$.
+      
+      ## Currency preceding inline broken math (due to emph)
+      
+      It's 5:45 and I've got $5.45.
+      
+      Below is an example from <https://github.com/ropensci/tinkr/issues/38>
+      $\frac{\sum _{i=N-n}^{N}Q_i} {\sum_{j=N-n}^{N}{(\frac{C_j+C_{j-1}}2)}}$
+      
+      The area of circle is $A _i = \pi r_ i^2$.
+      
+      $P =
+      NP$
+      
+      ## Currency with inline broken math (due to emph)
+      
+      The following line is considered to *all* be math:
+      $199 and $\frac{\sum _{i=N-n}^{N}Q_i} {\sum_{j=N-n}^{N}{(\frac{C_j+C_{j-1}}2)}}$.
+      
+      The following line has math starting at the correct place:
+      $199 *and* $\frac{\sum _{i=N-n}^{N}Q_i} {\sum_{j=N-n}^{N}{(\frac{C_j+C_{j-1}}2)}}$.
+      
+      The following line correctly protects math because of the link
+      There is a $1 bet on [wikipedia](https://wikipedia.org) that the area of circle is $A _i = \pi r_ i^2$.
+      
+      $99
+      $9
+      
+      $P \ne
+      NP$
+      
+      ## Trailing currency does not affect the computation.
+      
+      Dang a whopper and a 40 cost $10 now, but I've only got $5.45.
+      
+
+# postfix dollars throws an informative error
 
     Inline math delimiters are not balanced.
     
@@ -6,11 +64,9 @@
           names and code in backtics like so: `INKEY$`.
     
     Below are the pairs that were found:
-               start...end
-               -----...---
-     Give you $2 to ... me what INKEY$ means.
-     Give you $2 to ... 2$ verbally.
-    We write $2 but ...
+    start...end
+    -----...---
+         ...INKEY$
 
 # block math can be protected
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/examples/math-money-mix.md b/tests/testthat/examples/math-money-mix.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0435be1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/examples/math-money-mix.md
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+title: "Dollar as currency mixed with math"
+---
+
+
+## currency and ambiguous math
+
+I've got $5.45 and $A = `r runif(1)`$
+
+## currency and math on the same line
+
+Math that starts on the dollar: I've got $5.45 and $A = \pi r^2$.
+
+Math that starts at the equation: I've got $5.45 _and_ $A = \pi r^2$.
+
+## broken math trailing currency
+
+The area of a circle is $A =
+\pi r^2$.
+
+## Currency preceding inline broken math (due to emph)
+
+It's 5:45 and I've got $5.45.
+
+Below is an example from https://github.com/ropensci/tinkr/issues/38
+$\frac{\sum _{i=N-n}^{N}Q_i} {\sum_{j=N-n}^{N}{(\frac{C_j+C_{j-1}}2)}}$
+
+The area of circle is $A _i = \pi r_ i^2$.
+
+$P =
+NP$
+
+## Currency with inline broken math (due to emph)
+
+
+The following line is considered to _all_ be math:
+$199 and $\frac{\sum _{i=N-n}^{N}Q_i} {\sum_{j=N-n}^{N}{(\frac{C_j+C_{j-1}}2)}}$.
+
+The following line has math starting at the correct place:
+$199 _and_ $\frac{\sum _{i=N-n}^{N}Q_i} {\sum_{j=N-n}^{N}{(\frac{C_j+C_{j-1}}2)}}$.
+
+The following line correctly protects math because of the link
+There is a $1 bet on [wikipedia](https://wikipedia.org) that the area of circle is $A _i = \pi r_ i^2$.
+
+$99
+$9
+
+$P \ne
+NP$
+
+## Trailing currency does not affect the computation.
+
+Dang a whopper and a 40 cost $10 now, but I've only got $5.45.
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-asis-nodes.R b/tests/testthat/test-asis-nodes.R
index 2b0f894..2d21814 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-asis-nodes.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-asis-nodes.R
@@ -7,6 +7,21 @@ test_that("(#121) single dollar lines dont throw errors", {
   expect_equal(actual, expected)
 })
 
+
+test_that("(#121) money dollars mixed with broken math don't break", {
+  okay <- test_path("examples", "math-money-mix.md")
+  dollar_math <- yarn$new(okay, sourcepos = TRUE)
+  expect_no_error(dollar_math$protect_math())
+  expect_snapshot(show_user(dollar_math$show(), force = TRUE))
+})
+
+test_that("postfix dollars throws an informative error", {
+  expected <- "INKEY$\n"
+  math <- commonmark::markdown_xml(expected)
+  txt <- xml2::read_xml(math)
+  expect_snapshot_error(protxt <- protect_inline_math(txt, md_ns()))
+})
+
 test_that("(#124) french dollar lines dont throw errors", {
   expected <- "I've only got 2$ in the bank. Feels bad, man. Feels bad to not have 2 $\n"
   math <- commonmark::markdown_xml(expected)