Chapter 1

Whole Numbers
and Decimals

Section 5
Multiplication and
Division of Decimals

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 Objectives
1. Multiply decimals.
2. Divide a decimal by a whole number.
3. Divide a decimal by a decimal.

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 Multiply Decimals

Decimals are multiplied as if they were whole

numbers.
It is not necessary to line up the decimal points.
Decimal point in the answer is found using the
following steps: (see next slide)

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 Positioning the Decimal Point
Step 1 Count the total number of digits to the
right of the decimal point in each of the
numbers being multiplied.
Step 2 In the answer, count from right to left the
number of places found in step 1 and
write the decimal point. It may be
necessary to attach zeros to the left of the
answer in order to correctly place the
decimal point.

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 Example 1a
a. Multiply 8.34 × 4.2.
8.34 2 decimal places

 4.2 1 decimal place

First multiply as if they
were whole numbers. 1668
3336
35028 3 decimal places

35.028
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 Example 1b

(b) Multiply .032 × .07

First multiply as if they .032

were whole numbers.
 .07
224
5 decimal places, it is necessary to attach
zeros at the left of the answer.
.00224
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 A Formula for Gross Pay
The next example uses the formula for gross pay or
pay before deductions.

Gross pay
= Number of hours worked × Pay per hour

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 Example 2
Find the gross pay of a SUBWAY employee
working 31.5 hours at a rate of $8.65 per hour.
Multiply number of hours 31.5
worked by pay per hour.  8.65
1575
This worker’s gross pay, 1890
rounded to the nearest cent, is 2520
$272.48.
272.475
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 Example 3
Assume the cost of each 30-second 5.9
television ad at the 2017 Super Bowl
game was $5.9 million. If there were  60
60 advertising spots of 30 seconds 00
during the game, find the total amount
charged for advertising. 354
354.0
The total amount charged for advertising was
$354,000,000.
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Divide a Decimal by a Whole Number

Write the division as usual.

Place the decimal point in the quotient directly
above the decimal point in the dividend.
Perform the division.
Sometimes it is necessary to place zeros after the
decimal point in the dividend.

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 Example 4a

Divide 27.52 ÷ 32 then check using multiplication.

.86 .86
32 27.52
 32
25 6
172
1 92
258
1 92
27.52
0
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 Example 4b
19.175
Divide 153.4 ÷ 8 then check 8 153.400
8
using multiplication.
73
72
19.175 14
 8 8
60
153.400 56
40
40
0
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 Dividing a Decimal by a Decimal

Convert the divisor to a whole number by moving

the decimal point to the right.
Move the decimal point in the dividend the same
number of places.
Divide.

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 Example 5a
Divide 17.6 ÷ .25 and check the answer.
70.4
25 1760.0 70.4
175
 .25
10
0 3520
100 1408
100
17.600
0
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 Example 5b
Divide 5 ÷ .42 and check the answer.
11.9047
42 500.0000 round to nearest
42 thousandth 11.905
80
42
 .42
380
378
23810
200 47620
168
320 5.00010
294
26
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