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Key points

To multiply and divide by numbers between 0 and 1, you need to be confident with multiplying and dividing by and with short multiplication and division.

  • Multiplying by a number greater than 1 gives a greater answer than the original number. But when multiplying by a number greater than 0 and less than 1, the answer is smaller than the original number.

  • Dividing by a number greater than 1 gives a smaller answer than the original number. But when dividing by a number greater than 0 and less than 1, the answer is greater than the original number.

  • Multiplying and dividing whole numbers by numbers greater than 0 and less than 1 can be broken into a whole number calculation followed by multiplying or dividing by a power of 10, for example 10, 100 or 1000 and so on. This makes the calculation simpler to do.

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Multiplying whole numbers by numbers between 0 and 1

To multiply a whole number by a number between 0 and 1:

  1. Multiply the decimal by a power of 10 to get a whole number. This makes the calculation simpler.
  2. Multiply the whole numbers.
  3. Divide by the power of 10

Examples

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 8, Example 1: Six multiplied by zero point two written as a calculation. , Understand how to work out 6 × 0∙2
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Dividing whole numbers by numbers between 0 and 1

To divide by a number greater than 0 and less than 1:

  1. Multiply both the and by the same power of 10 to get whole numbers; this creates an equivalent expression which is easier to calculate.
  2. Divide the whole numbers.

Examples

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 10, Example 1: Four divided by zero point five written as a calculation., Understand how to work out 4 ÷ 0∙5

Question

Which of these calculations give an answer greater than 84?

Calculations labelled A to E. Option A: Eighty-four multiplied by zero point two. Option B: Eighty-four multiplied by one point two. Option C: Eighty-four multiplied by zero point six. Option D: Eighty-four divided by zero point one. Option E: Eighty-four divided by zero point six.

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Practise multiplication & division of integers

Quiz

Practise multiplication and division of integers by numbers between 0 and 1 in this quiz.

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Real-world maths

Engineer working on a technical drawing
Image caption,
Engineers may carry out calculations by values between 0 and 1

Calculating a measure such as speed, density or pressure may involve division and multiplication by values between 0 and 1

This method can be useful to scientists, motor mechanics and product engineers.

Engineer working on a technical drawing
Image caption,
Engineers may carry out calculations by values between 0 and 1
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Play the Divided Islands game! game

Using your maths skills, help to build bridges and bring light back to the islands in this free game from 鶹Լ Bitesize.

Play the Divided Islands game!
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More on Operations - Calculations

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