To multiply decimals, follow these steps:
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Ignore the decimal points: Treat the numbers as whole numbers and multiply them as you normally would.
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Count the decimal places: Count the total number of decimal places in both of the original numbers you're multiplying.
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Place the decimal point: In the product (the answer), count from right to left the number of decimal places you found in step 2. Place the decimal point there.
Example:
Let's multiply 1.23 by 2.3.
- Multiply as whole numbers: 123 x 23 = 2829
- Count decimal places: 1.23 has two decimal places, and 2.3 has one, for a total of 2 + 1 = 3 decimal places.
- Place the decimal: In 2829, count three places from the right and place the decimal point. So, 2829 becomes 2.829
Therefore, 1.23 x 2.3 = 2.829
Another Example (Based on provided snippet):
Let's consider a portion of an example multiplying something by 23, where you've already multiplied by 3, and are now multiplying by 2 (represented by a placeholder, likely '0'):
The Snippet shows: "...multiply it across 2 times 3 is 6.. 2 times 2 is 4 and 2 times 1 is 2.. Add a placeholder and do the same thing with three three times three is nine. Three times two is six." It means, essentially you've multiplied each digit in the first number by 2, resulting in "246", and then added a placeholder (a zero at the end) to signify multiplying by 20, not 2.
This represents the standard process of long multiplication, now with the awareness of where the decimal point should go in the final answer. Remember to sum the partial products before determining the final decimal placement.
