Multiplying by powers of ten
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Follow the following useful and easy shortcuts when multiplying by powers of ten.
When multiplying a whole number by a positive power of ten, just count how many zero(s) you have and attached that to the right of the whole number.
Examples:
1) 56 × 10
There is only one zero, so 56 × 10 = 560
2) 45 × 10,000
There are 4 zeros, so 45 × 10000 = 450000
3) 18 × 10,000,000
There are 7 zeros, so 18 × 10,000,000 = 180,000,000
When multiplying a whole number by a negative power of ten (negative exponent), move the decimal point one place to the left for each zero you see before the 1.
Examples:
1) 38 × 0.1
There is only one zero before the 1, so 38 × 0.1 = 3.8
2) 99 × 0.01
There are 2 zeros before the 1, so 99 × 0.01 = 0.99
Decimals multiplied by powers of 10
When multiplying a decimal by a positive power of ten (positive exponent), move the decimal point one place to the right for each zero you see after the 1.
Examples:
1) 0.56 × 10
There is only one zero, so move the decimal point one place to the right.
0.56 × 10 = 5.6
2) 0.56 × 100
There are 2 zeros, so move the decimal point two places to the right.
0.56 × 100 = 56
3) 0.056 × 1000
There are three zeros, so move the decimal point 3 places to the right.
0.056 × 1000 = 56
4) 0.056 × 100,000
0.056 × 100,000 = 0.056 × 1000 × 100 = 56 × 100 = 5600
When multiplying a decimal by a negative power of ten (negative exponent), move the decimal point one place to the left for each zero you see before the 1.
Note that 0.1 = 10-1, 0.01 = 10-2, 0.001 = 10-3, and so forth....
We call 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 negative powers of 10 because the exponents are negative.
Examples:We call 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 negative powers of 10 because the exponents are negative.
1) 56 × 0.1
There is only one zero, so move the decimal point one place to the left.
56 × 0.1 = 5.6
2) 560 × 0.01
There are 2 zeros, so move the decimal point two places to the left.
560 × 0.01 = 5.6
2) 560 × 0.001
There are 3 zeros, so move the decimal point two places to the left.
560 × 0.001 = 0.560
3) 0.56 × 0.1
There is only one zero, so move the decimal point one place to the left.
0.56 × 0.1 = 0.056
4) 0.56 × 0.01
There are 2 zeros, so move the decimal point two places to the left.
0.56 × 0.01 = 0.0056
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Summary showing how multiplying by powers of ten works
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