Decimal multiplication sentences are number sentences that show how to multiply whole numbers and decimals. They use the multiplication sign (×) to show that a number is being multiplied by another number, such as 0.1, 0.01, or 0.001.
Each decimal place makes the product ten times smaller. Multiplying by 0.1 moves the digits one place to the right, by 0.01 moves them two places, and by 0.001 moves them three places.
To complete a decimal multiplication sentence, multiply the given numbers carefully and fill in the missing number. Remember to place the decimal point correctly by counting decimal places in your factors.
You can use patterns from whole-number multiplication to help with decimals. Each time you multiply by ten times less, the decimal point moves one place to the left.
Sometimes a decimal multiplication sentence has a missing number. You can find it by using your understanding of how multiplying by tenths, hundredths, or thousandths changes the value.
To check your work, multiply the numbers again. The product should make sense—smaller than the original whole number when multiplied by a decimal less than 1.
Decimal multiplication is used in real life to find parts of quantities, such as money, measurements, and weights. Knowing how to complete decimal multiplication sentences helps you solve practical problems accurately.
Always label your answers with the correct unit, such as dollars, meters, or liters, to show what the product represents.