Multiplying, Dividing and Converting Decimals
Multiplying decimals is simpler than you think - just ignore the decimal points completely at first! Multiply the numbers as if they were whole numbers, then count up all the decimal places in both original numbers. Your final answer needs exactly that many decimal places.
For example, 4.5 ร 2.4 becomes 45 ร 24 = 1080. Since you had one decimal place in each number (that's 2 total), your answer is 10.8. Easy!
Dividing decimals requires a clever trick - turn the division into a fraction first. Then multiply both the top and bottom by 10, 100, or 1000 until you've eliminated all decimal points. So 5.4 รท 0.06 becomes 540 รท 6 = 90.
When converting between fractions, decimals and percentages, remember the simple rules: multiply by 100 to go from decimal to percentage, divide by 100 to go the other way. For fractions, divide the top by the bottom to get a decimal.
Remember: Practice makes perfect - try these techniques with your pocket money calculations to see decimals in action!