Multiplying Decimals:

While multiplying decimals, the decimal points do not have to be aligned.  Quite, it is significant to accurately position the decimal point in the product.  For position a decimal in the product, the whole number of digits to the right of the decimals in the numbers being multiplied must be equivalent to the number of digits to the right of the decimal within the product.  This is best described in the following examples:

Step 1:  Multiply the numbers without inserting decimal within the products.

Step 2:  Add the number of digits to the right of the decimal in all of the numbers being multiplied.

Step 3:  Position the decimal within the product so the number of digits to the right of the decimal equals the total number of digits to the right of the decimal in the numbers multiplied (from Step 2).

Example:

0.056 x 0.032 =          

Solution:

0.056

0.032

--------

  112

168

---------

0.001792

NOTE: Because 0.056 has three digits to the right of the decimal point, and 0.032 has three digits to the right of the decimal point, six digits must be to the right of the decimal point in the product. For have six digits in the product, zeros are inserted to the left of the computed digits.

For multiply a decimal by 10, move the decimal point one position to the right.