Do you line up decimal points when multiplying?

No. Lining up the points is for adding and subtracting. To multiply, ignore the points, multiply, then give the answer as many decimal places as the two numbers have together.

How do you divide a decimal by a whole number?

Divide as you would with whole numbers and put the decimal point in the answer directly above the point in the number you are dividing. For example, 34.2 ÷ 9 = 3.8.

How do you divide by a decimal?

Multiply both numbers by 10, 100 or 1000 so the divisor becomes a whole number, then divide. For example, 18 ÷ 0.9 = 180 ÷ 9 = 20.

Why does multiplying by a decimal make a number smaller?

Multiplying by a number less than 1 means taking only part of something: 0.5 × 8 is half of 8, which is 4. Multiplying by a decimal greater than 1, such as 1.5, still makes a number bigger.

What grade learns multiplying and dividing decimals?

In the US Common Core, grade 5 covers decimals to hundredths (5.NBT.B.7), then grade 6 expects fluency with multi-digit decimals (6.NS.B.3). In England, Year 5 covers multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1000, and Year 6 covers written methods with decimals.

Is there a free multiplying and dividing decimals worksheet with answers?

Yes. Use the Print a worksheet button on this page. Each worksheet is freshly made, and the answer key can show answers only or answers with worked steps.

Grades 5 and 6 (Years 5 and 6 in England)

Multiplying and dividing decimals

Multiplying decimals and dividing decimals use the whole-number methods you already know, plus one rule about where the decimal point goes. Here are both methods step by step, including dividing decimals by whole numbers. Try the free practice set below, then print a fresh worksheet with an answer key.

The method, step by step

To multiply, ignore the decimal points and multiply the numbers as if they were whole numbers.
Count the decimal places in both numbers together: the answer has that many decimal places.
To divide by a whole number, divide as usual and put the decimal point in the answer directly above the point in the number you are dividing.
To divide by a decimal, multiply both numbers by 10, 100 or 1000 until the divisor is a whole number, then divide.
Check with an estimate, or multiply your answer back to see if you get the number you started with.

CCSS 5.NBT.B.7CCSS 6.NS.B.3England: Y6 Fractions (including decimals)England: KS3 NumberEngland: Y6 Multiplication and division

Worked example

4.8 × 2.3 = ?

Ignore the decimal points and work out 48 × 23.
48 × 20 = 960 and 48 × 3 = 144, so 48 × 23 = 1104.
4.8 has one decimal place and 2.3 has one, so the answer needs 1 + 1 = 2 decimal places.
Count two places in from the right of 1104 to get 11.04.
Estimate to check: 5 × 2 = 10, which is close to 11.04.
4.8 × 2.3 = 11.04

Practice now

Question 1 of 100 correct

A jug holds 4.75 litres of lemonade. Each cup holds 0.25 litres. How many can you make?

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Why counting decimal places works

A decimal is a whole number of tenths, hundredths or thousandths. 4.8 is 48 tenths and 2.3 is 23 tenths. Tenths times tenths make hundredths, so 4.8 × 2.3 is 48 × 23 = 1104 hundredths, which is 11.04. Counting decimal places is a shortcut for this: each decimal place in the question means one more division by 10 in the answer.

An area model shows it for small numbers. Draw a square with sides 1 unit long and split it into a 10 by 10 grid, so each small square is one hundredth. To find 0.3 × 0.4, shade 3 columns and 4 rows: they overlap in 12 small squares, so 0.3 × 0.4 = 0.12. The answer is smaller than both numbers, which surprises many children. Multiplying by a number less than 1 means taking only part of something.

Multiplying decimals: more examples

A decimal times a whole number: 9.8 × 4. Work out 98 × 4 = 392, then put back one decimal place to get 39.2.
Money: 3 bus tickets at $2.45 each. 245 × 3 = 735 cents, so the total is $7.35.
Tenths times tenths: 0.6 × 0.7. 6 × 7 = 42, and there are two decimal places, so the answer is 0.42.
Different numbers of places: 2.35 × 0.4. 235 × 4 = 940, and 2 + 1 = 3 decimal places gives 0.940, which is 0.94.
Using a fact you know: 98 × 38 = 3724, so 9.8 × 3.8 = 37.24.

Dividing decimals by whole numbers

To divide a decimal by a whole number, use ordinary short or long division. The only new rule is that the decimal point in the answer goes directly above the decimal point in the number being divided. For 34.2 ÷ 9: 9 goes into 34 three times with 7 left over, so write 3 above the 4 and carry the 7 into the tenths to make 72 tenths. 72 ÷ 9 = 8, so the answer is 3.8.

Sometimes the division doesn't finish at the last digit. For 7.5 ÷ 2, write 7.5 as 7.50 and keep going: 7.50 ÷ 2 = 3.75. Zeros after the last decimal place don't change the number, so you can add as many as you need.

Sharing money is the everyday version. If 4 friends split a bill of $25.80 equally, each pays 25.80 ÷ 4 = $6.45. Check by multiplying back: 6.45 × 4 = 25.80.

Dividing by a decimal

Dividing by a decimal is easier once the divisor is a whole number. Multiply both numbers by the same power of 10; the answer stays the same because both numbers have been scaled by the same amount. 18 ÷ 0.9 becomes 180 ÷ 9 = 20, and 1.44 ÷ 0.12 becomes 144 ÷ 12 = 12.

It helps to read division as 'how many fit into'. How many 0.25 liter cups can you fill from a 3 liter jug? 3 ÷ 0.25 = 300 ÷ 25 = 12 cups. Dividing by a number less than 1 gives an answer bigger than the number you started with.

How it is taught in school

In the US, Common Core introduces multiplying and dividing decimals to hundredths in grade 5, using models, drawings and place value strategies (5.NBT.B.7), alongside the patterns in the decimal point when multiplying or dividing by a power of 10 (5.NBT.A.2). In grade 6, students multiply and divide multi-digit decimals fluently with the standard algorithm (6.NS.B.3).

In England, Year 5 pupils multiply and divide whole numbers and decimals by 10, 100 and 1000. In Year 6 they multiply one-digit numbers with up to two decimal places by whole numbers, such as 2.45 × 3, and use written division methods where the answer has up to two decimal places.

How parents can help

Make sure multiplication facts are quick. Decimal multiplication and division rest on times tables, so slow recall makes every question feel hard.
Use shopping: the cost of 3 of the same item, or splitting a bill between the family.
Before each question, ask 'should the answer be bigger or smaller?', especially when multiplying or dividing by a number less than 1.
Check divisions by multiplying back. If 25.80 ÷ 4 = 6.45, then 6.45 × 4 should give 25.80.
Print a fresh worksheet, let your child mark it with the answer key, and go through the worked steps for anything they missed.

Common mistakes

Giving the answer only one decimal place because each number had one. 0.3 × 0.4 is 0.12, not 1.2: tenths times tenths make hundredths.
Forgetting the decimal point altogether. 9.8 × 4 is 39.2, not 392. An estimate of about 10 × 4 = 40 shows the mistake at once.
Dropping a zero before counting places. In 2.35 × 0.4, 235 × 4 = 940, and three decimal places gives 0.940 = 0.94, not 0.094.
Multiplying only the divisor by 10. 18 ÷ 0.9 becomes 180 ÷ 9, not 18 ÷ 9. Whatever you do to one number, do to the other.
Lining up the decimal points to multiply, as you would to add. For multiplication you count decimal places instead.

Questions people ask

Do you line up decimal points when multiplying?: No. Lining up the points is for adding and subtracting. To multiply, ignore the points, multiply, then give the answer as many decimal places as the two numbers have together.
How do you divide a decimal by a whole number?: Divide as you would with whole numbers and put the decimal point in the answer directly above the point in the number you are dividing. For example, 34.2 ÷ 9 = 3.8.
How do you divide by a decimal?: Multiply both numbers by 10, 100 or 1000 so the divisor becomes a whole number, then divide. For example, 18 ÷ 0.9 = 180 ÷ 9 = 20.
Why does multiplying by a decimal make a number smaller?: Multiplying by a number less than 1 means taking only part of something: 0.5 × 8 is half of 8, which is 4. Multiplying by a decimal greater than 1, such as 1.5, still makes a number bigger.
What grade learns multiplying and dividing decimals?: In the US Common Core, grade 5 covers decimals to hundredths (5.NBT.B.7), then grade 6 expects fluency with multi-digit decimals (6.NS.B.3). In England, Year 5 covers multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1000, and Year 6 covers written methods with decimals.
Is there a free multiplying and dividing decimals worksheet with answers?: Yes. Use the Print a worksheet button on this page. Each worksheet is freshly made, and the answer key can show answers only or answers with worked steps.

Updated November 1, 2026.

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