Why does the product get smaller when multiplying fractions?

Why does the product get smaller when multiplying fractions?

When you multiply by a fraction, you are finding that fraction, or portion, of the original whole. Assuming that you’re dealing with “proper” fractions (which are smaller than 1), then you must end up with a smaller value, because you’re taking only part of the original value.

What is the rule for multiplying decimals?

To multiply decimals, first multiply as if there is no decimal. Next, count the number of digits after the decimal in each factor. Finally, put the same number of digits behind the decimal in the product.

What happens to the decimal point in a multiplication problem?

Multiplying decimals is the same as multiplying whole numbers except for the placement of the decimal point in the answer. When you multiply decimals, the decimal point is placed in the product so that the number of decimal places in the product is the sum of the decimal places in the factors.

Why do you move the decimal when multiplying?

It’s simply a matter of counting how many factors of 10 appear in the denominator after the multiplication. Each factor of 10 in the denominator moves the decimal point one place to the left.

Do you line up decimals when multiplying?

Multiplying Decimals. Do not line up the decimal points, just the right-most digits. Temporarily ignore the decimal points and multiply just as if you were multiplying whole numbers. Count the total number of digits after the decimal points in the original numbers.

When you multiply by a fraction less than one how does the product compare to the factors?

When a number is multiplied by a fraction equivalent to 1, the product is equal to the number. When a positive whole number is multiplied by a fraction greater than 1, the product is greater than the whole number.

What happens when you multiply by a fraction less than 1?

Whenever you multiply a positive number by a positive factor less than 1, the product will be smaller than the original number. For example, \frac 12 \times\frac 34 = \frac 38. Both factors are less than 1, and the product is less than both factors.

What happens when you multiply by a decimal less than one?

When multiplying a number by a decimal less than one, the product will be smaller than the number being multiplied. This is because we are finding a fractional amount of a quantity.

Why is it important to estimate the product when multiplying decimals?

When multiplying decimals, placement of the decimal point is very important. Since there is one decimal digit in each factor, there must be two decimal digits in the product. This is because tenths x tenths = hundredths. Estimating the product lets us verify that the placement of the decimal point is correct, and that we have a reasonable answer.

How do you multiply decimals with zeros in the product?

Multiplying Decimals with Zeros in the Product If the product in a decimal multiplication ends in any zeros, then remove the zeros before writing the final answer. Here is an example of a decimal multiplication in which we must remove zeros from our final answer. We have 0.25 × 0.04.

How do you multiply decimals by whole numbers?

Multiplying a decimal by a whole number. Multiplying decimals relies on adapting multiplication of whole numbers. When one of the numbers being multiplied is reduced to a tenth of its original size, the product is also reduced to a tenth of its original size.