0.4 × 0.3
Today we'll multiply decimals. What is zero point four times zero point three?
Both factors are less than one, so our answer should be smaller than each of them. Let's prove it.
First, pretend the decimal points aren't there. Just look at the digits — four and three.
Four times three is twelve. We'll come back to this in a moment.
Now think about place value. Zero point four means four tenths, and zero point three means three tenths.
When we multiply tenths by tenths, we get hundredths.
Another way to see it — count the decimal places. One in zero point four, one in zero point three. That's two places total.
So in twelve, we shift the decimal point two places to the left.
Twelve becomes zero point one two — twelve hundredths.
Zero point four times zero point three is zero point one two. Smaller than both factors, just like we predicted!