The Power of Ten Magic
Did you know multiplying by powers of ten is like giving your decimal a superpower?
When you multiply a decimal by 10, 100, or 1000, the digits don't change - they just move! Each zero in the power of ten tells us how many places to move the decimal point to the right. It's like a decimal dance!
How to Multiply Decimals by Powers of Ten
1️⃣ Count the zeros in the power of ten (10 has 1 zero, 100 has 2 zeros, etc.)
2️⃣ Move the decimal point that many places to the RIGHT
3️⃣ Add zeros if you run out of digits
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: 3.75 × 100
100 has 2 zeros, so we move the decimal point 2 places to the right.
3.75 becomes
Example 2: 0.6 × 1000
1000 has 3 zeros, so we move the decimal point 3 places to the right.
0.6 becomes
Parent Tips 🌟
- Money makes it real: Use dollar amounts to practice (e.g., $4.25 × 10 = $42.50). Kids understand money moves!
- Create a decimal dance: Have your child physically move (like a dance) to show how the decimal point moves right.
- Kitchen math: When measuring ingredients, ask "What if we needed 10 times this amount?" and calculate together.