Lesson 5: Decimal Points in Products

Let’s look at products that are decimals.

5.1: Multiplying by 10

  1. In which equation is the value of $x$ the largest?

    $x \boldcdot 10 = 810$

    $x \boldcdot 10 = 81$

    $x \boldcdot 10 = 8.1$

    $x \boldcdot 10 = 0.81$

  2. How many times the size of 0.81 is 810?

5.2: Fractionally Speaking: Powers of Ten

Work with a partner to answer the following questions. One person should answer the questions labeled “Partner A,” and the other should answer those labeled “Partner B.” Then compare the results.

  1. Find each product or quotient. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

    Partner A

    1. $250 \boldcdot \frac{1}{10}$
    2. $250 \boldcdot \frac {1}{100}$
    3. $48 \div 10$
    4. $48 \div 100$

    Partner B

    1. $250 \div 10$
    2. $250 \div 100$
    3. $48\boldcdot \frac{1}{10}$
    4. $48 \boldcdot \frac{1}{100}$
  2. Use your work in the previous problems to find $720 \boldcdot (0.1)$ and $720 \boldcdot (0.01)$. Explain your reasoning.
    Pause here for a class discussion.

  3. Find each product. Show your reasoning.

    1. $36 \boldcdot (0.1)$

    2. $(24.5) \boldcdot (0.1)$

    3. $(1.8) \boldcdot (0.1)$

    1. $54 \boldcdot (0.01)$

    2. $(9.2)\boldcdot (0.01)$

  4. Jada says: “If you multiply a number by 0.001, the decimal point of the number moves three places to the left.” Do you agree with her statement? Explain your reasoning.

5.3: Fractionally Speaking: Multiples of Powers of Ten

  1. Select all expressions that are equivalent to $(0.6) \boldcdot (0.5)$. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

    1. $6 \boldcdot (0.1) \boldcdot 5 \boldcdot (0.1)$
    2. $6 \boldcdot (0.01) \boldcdot 5 \boldcdot (0.1)$
    3. $6 \boldcdot \frac{1}{10} \boldcdot 5 \boldcdot \frac{1}{10}$
    4. $6 \boldcdot \frac{1}{1,000} \boldcdot 5 \boldcdot \frac{1}{100}$
    1. $6 \boldcdot (0.001) \boldcdot 5 \boldcdot (0.01)$
    2. $6 \boldcdot 5 \boldcdot \frac{1}{10} \boldcdot \frac{1}{10}$
    3. $\frac{6}{10} \boldcdot \frac{5}{10}$
  2. Find the value of $(0.6) \boldcdot (0.5)$. Show your reasoning.

  3. Find the value of each product by writing and reasoning with an equivalent expression with fractions.

    1. $(0.3) \boldcdot (0.02)$
    1. $(0.7) \boldcdot (0.05)$

Summary

We can use fractions like $\frac{1}{10}$ and $\frac{1}{100}$ to reason about the location of the decimal point in a product of two decimals.  

Let’s take $24 \boldcdot (0.1)$ as an example. There are several ways to find the product:

  • We can interpret it as 24 groups of 1 tenth (or 24 tenths), which is 2.4.
  • We can think of it as $24 \boldcdot \frac{1}{10}$, which is equal to $\frac {24}{10}$ (and also equal to 2.4).
  • Multiplying by $\frac {1}{10}$ has the same result as dividing by 10, so we can also think of the product as $24 \div 10$, which is equal to 2.4.

Similarly, we can think of $(0.7) \boldcdot (0.09)$ as 7 tenths times 9 hundredths, and write:

$$\left(7 \boldcdot  \frac {1}{10}\right) \boldcdot \left(9 \boldcdot  \frac {1}{100}\right)$$

We can rearrange whole numbers and fractions:

$$(7 \boldcdot 9) \boldcdot \left( \frac {1}{10} \boldcdot  \frac {1}{100}\right) = 63 \boldcdot \frac {1}{1,\!000} = \frac {63}{1,\!000}$$

This tells us that $(0.7) \boldcdot (0.09) = 0.063$.

Here is another example: To find $(1.5) \boldcdot (0.43)$, we can think of 1.5 as 15 tenths and 0.43 as 43 hundredths. We can write the tenths and hundredths as fractions and rearrange the factors. $$\left(15 \boldcdot \frac{1}{10}\right) \boldcdot \left(43 \boldcdot \frac{1}{100}\right) = 15 \boldcdot 43 \boldcdot \frac{1}{1,\!000}$$

Multiplying 15 and 43 gives us 645, and multiplying $\frac{1}{10}$ and $ \frac{1}{100}$ gives us $\frac{1}{1,000}$. So $(1.5) \boldcdot (0.43)$ is $645 \boldcdot \frac{1}{1,000}$, which is 0.645.

Practice Problems ▶