Answer:
- if both are positive, the result will be smaller than either
- if one is negative, the result is less than the positive number and greater than the negative number.
- if both are negative, the result is greater than either
Step-by-step explanation:
The magnitude of a fraction of a fraction (their product) is always smaller than the magnitudes of either fraction. So, if both decimals are positive, the result is less than either factor.
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Negative numbers are less than 1, so there can be several cases of interest when one or both numbers are negative.
<u>Both numbers negative</u>
The product will be positive, so will be greater than either negative factor.
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<u>One number negative, the other number positive</u>
The product will be negative, so will be less than the positive factor and greater than the negative factor. (Multiplying a negative number by a positive fraction moves it closer to zero on the number line, hence to a value that is greater than the negative factor.)
