Multiplying Decimals

Here we will learn about multiplying decimals including how to multiply decimals by a whole number and multiply decimals by decimals.

There are also multiplying decimals worksheets and word problems based on Edexcel, AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further guidance on where to go next if you’re still stuck.

What is multiplying decimals?

Multiplying decimals is where we multiply together decimal numbers.
To multiply decimals we first need to multiply by powers of ten to turn the decimals into whole numbers. We then need to divide by powers of ten at the end to get our final answer.


Multiplying decimals is important when dealing with money problems such as the conversion of currency. It is also a vital skill when converting between metric units and other multiplication problems.

E.g.

Multiplying decimals image 1

What is multiplying decimals?

What is multiplying decimals?

Recap of multiplying and dividing by 10, 100, 1000…

When solving problems where we need to multiply or divide decimals, we need to multiply and divide by powers of ten.
When we multiply by a power of ten, each digit increases in place value.


If we multiply by 10, the digits move one place to the left, so for example a digit in the hundredths column will move to the tenths column.

E.g.

Multiplying decimals image 2

If we divide by 100, the digits move two places to the right so for example a digit in the tens column will move to the tenths column.

E.g.

Multiplying decimals image 3

How to multiply decimals

To multiply decimals we will multiply by powers of ten at the start, and then divide by powers of ten at the end to get our final answer.

In order to multiply decimals:

  1. Multiply any decimal numbers by an appropriate power of ten to make them whole numbers.
  2. Use column multiplication (or another preferred method) to find the product of the numbers.
  3. Divide the product from Step 2 by the powers of ten used in Step 1. Check that the total number of decimal digits in the question is the same as the total number of decimal digits in the answer.

Explain how to multiply decimals in 3 steps

Explain how to multiply decimals in 3 steps

Multiplying decimals worksheet

Multiplying decimals worksheet

Multiplying decimals worksheet

Get your free multiplying decimals worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.

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Multiplying decimals worksheet

Multiplying decimals worksheet

Multiplying decimals worksheet

Get your free multiplying decimals worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.

DOWNLOAD FREE

Related lessons on decimals

Multiplying decimals is part of our series of lessons to support revision on decimals. You may find it helpful to start with the main decimals lesson for a summary of what to expect, or use the step by step guides below for further detail on individual topics. Other lessons in this series include:

Multiplying decimals examples

Example 1: multiplying an integer by a decimal

Work out

6 × 5.2

  1. Multiply any decimal numbers by an appropriate power of ten to make them whole numbers.

Multiply 5.2 by 10 to make it 52.

2Use column multiplication (or another preferred method) to find the product of the numbers.

Multiplying decimals example 1a

6 × 52 = 312

3Divide the product from Step 2 by the powers of ten used in Step 1. Check that the total number of decimal digits in the question is the same as the total number of decimal digits in the answer.

In Step 1 we multiplied 5.2 by 10, so now divide by 10.

312 \div 10 = 31.2

Check that the total number of decimal places in the question matches the total number of decimal places in the answer.

Multiplying decimals example 1b

The answer is 31.2

Example 2: multiplying an integer by a decimal

Work out

14 × 3.65

Multiply any decimal numbers by an appropriate power of ten to make them whole numbers.

Use column multiplication (or another preferred method) to find the product of the numbers.

Divide the product from Step 2 by the powers of ten used in Step 1. Check that the total number of decimal digits in the question is the same as the total number of decimal digits in the answer.

Example 3: multiplying a decimal by a decimal

Work out

3.7 × 4.9

Multiply any decimal numbers by an appropriate power of ten to make them whole numbers.

Use column multiplication (or another preferred method) to find the product of the numbers.

Divide the product from Step 2 by the powers of ten used in Step 1. Check that the total number of decimal digits in the question is the same as the total number of decimal digits in the answer.

Example 4: multiplying a decimal by a decimal

Work out

2.87 × 6.3

Multiply any decimal numbers by an appropriate power of ten to make them whole numbers.

Use column multiplication (or another preferred method) to find the product of the numbers.

Divide the product from Step 2 by the powers of ten used in Step 1. Check that the total number of decimal digits in the question is the same as the total number of decimal digits in the answer.

Common misconceptions

  • Decimal point in the wrong position in the answer

It is very common for the answer to have the decimal point in the wrong position. It is important to remember the powers of ten that were used at the start in order to reverse them to calculate the final answer.
Checking that the total number of decimal places in the question is the same as the total number of decimal places in the answer is a way to avoid having the decimal point in the wrong position.
Also rounding the numbers in the question to 1 significant figure and estimating the answer can give a good idea of the size of the actual answer.

E.g.

Common misconceptions when students multiply a decimal

Practice multiplying decimals questions

1. Multiply together 6 and 2.8

1.68
GCSE Quiz False

16.8
GCSE Quiz True

12.48
GCSE Quiz False

168
GCSE Quiz False

Work out 6\times28 and then divide the answer by 10

2. Work out 9.4\times16

150.4
GCSE Quiz True

1504
GCSE Quiz False

144.64
GCSE Quiz False

15.04
GCSE Quiz False

Work out 94\times16 and then divide the answer by 10

3. Work out 23\times0.17

391
GCSE Quiz False

39.1
GCSE Quiz False

23.161
GCSE Quiz False

3.91
GCSE Quiz True

Work out 23\times17 and then divide the answer by 100

4. Multiply together 5.6 and 9.8

5488
GCSE Quiz False

54.88
GCSE Quiz True

45.48
GCSE Quiz False

15.4
GCSE Quiz False

Work out 56\times98 and then divide the answer by 100

5. Find the product of 4.83 and 7.2

347.76
GCSE Quiz False

28.166
GCSE Quiz False

34.776
GCSE Quiz True

29.66
GCSE Quiz False

Work out 483\times72 and then divide the answer by 1000

6. Work out 2\times3.7\times1.54

11.396
GCSE Quiz True

11396
GCSE Quiz False

6.378
GCSE Quiz False

7.24
GCSE Quiz False

Work out 2\times37\times154 and then divide the answer by 1000

Multiplying decimals GCSE questions

1. You are given that 132\times451 = 59532 . Use this information to work out the following:

(a) 13.2\times451

(b) 1.32\times4.51

(c) 13.2\times0.451

 

(3 marks)

Show answer

(a) 5953.2

(1)

(b) 5.9532

(1)

(c) 5.9532

(1)

2. (a) Find the cost of 12 bottles of sparkling water costing £1.69 each.

(b) At a cinema, adult tickets cost £7.75 and child tickets cost £5.49 . Find the total cost of 5 adults and 7 children

 

(5 marks)

Show answer

(a) 12 \times 169

(1)

  £20.28 i

(1)

(b) 5 \times7.75 or 7\times5.49

(1)

38.75 or 38.43

(1)

Correct answer of £77.18

(1)

3. Calculate the area of the rectangle

Multiplying decimals GCSE question 3

(2 marks)

Show answer

12.4\times8.7 i

(1)

107.88 i

(1)

Learning checklist

You have now learned how to:

  • Understand and use place value for decimals, measures and integers of any size
  • Use the four operations, including formal written methods, applied to integers, decimals, proper and improper fractions, and mixed numbers, all both positive and negative

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