Question

To find the position of the decimal point in the product, you line up the decimal points in the factors and bring down the decimal point.
True or False?

Answer 1

False. To find the decimal point while multiplying, count the number of decimal places (to the right of the decimal) in the factors. Then use the total of decimal places and move to the product. Start on the left side, and move the decimal over one number place for each decimal place.
Example: 3.77*2.8=?
   3.77
*  2.8
----------
10556
But this is without the decimal point.
3.77 has two decimal places, and 2.8 has one. Put them together and you get a total of three decimal places.
10556, then, should have three decimal places.
Your answer would be 10.556
I hope this wasn't too confusing.