Multiplying Decimals

Use one of the following strategies for multiplying decimals:

Example: 2.4  X 0.04

Strategy 1: Change the decimals to fraction and multiply. Strategy 2: Ignore the decimals points and multiply.
Step 1: Change the decimals to fractions:

                        24/10  x  4/100                      

Step 1: Ignore the decimal points and multiply as              usual:

                        24  x  4 = 96
Step 2: Multiply the numerators and multiply the
            denominators:

                24/10  x  4/100 =  96/1000
  

Step 2: Count the number of decimal places
            to the right of each decimal in the
            original numbers, then put this many
            decimal places after the decimal
            point in your answer:

                               .096
Step 4: If necessary, convert the answer to a
            mixed number:

                       

Step 5: Convert back to decimal form:

                                .096

 

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