How to multiply decimals

Have you ever found yourself staring at a math problem involving decimals, trying to remember the steps to multiply them correctly? Whether you’re helping your child with homework, tackling a budgeting spreadsheet, or simply brushing up on your math skills, it can be a little daunting to navigate the intricacies of decimal multiplication. Fear not! In this post, we’ll break down the process into simple, manageable steps to make this essential math skill a breeze.

To multiply decimals, first, ignore the decimal points and multiply the numbers as if they were whole numbers. Then, count the total number of decimal places from both of the original numbers and place the decimal point in the product accordingly.

To multiply decimals, start by treating the numbers as whole numbers. This means you should temporarily disregard the decimal points. For instance, if you need to multiply 3.4 by 2.1, think of it as 34 multiplied by 21. Perform the multiplication as you normally would: 34 x 21 = 714.

Next, you need to determine the total number of decimal places in the numbers you began with. In this case, 3.4 has one decimal place and 2.1 also has one decimal place, making a total of two decimal places. Finally, you take the product (714) and place the decimal point so that it reflects the total number of decimal places. You would then move the decimal point two places to the left, resulting in 7.14. And there you have it: 3.4 multiplied by 2.1 equals 7.14! This method can be applied to any decimal multiplication problem and, with a bit of practice, will soon become second nature.