Math Review/ Learn
Jean Montgomery, Austin Community College

Multiplying Decimals

When you need to multiply a decimal number, follow these steps:

  1. Multiply as if the numbers were whole numbers. (Don't worry about the decimals yet!)
    math problem

  2. As you compute the problem, place the last digit of each additional product to the left of the previous product's last digit.
    math problem

  3. Then add the products together.
    math problem

  4. In order to place the decimal point in the correct spot, count the number of digits to the right of each decimal in the problem.
    math problem
    A total of four digits are to the right of each decimal.

  5. Count an equal number of digits in the answer starting from the right and place the decimal point there.
    math problem
  6. If there are fewer digits in the answer than the total number of decimal places needed, you must add zeros to the left of the answer digits.

 

< Back Next >