Learn it
Each place is 10 times the place to its right and 1/10 of the place to its left. This works on both sides of the decimal point.
Multiplying by 10, 100 or 1,000 moves every digit 1, 2 or 3 places to the left. Dividing moves digits to the right.
Exponents show powers of 10: 10² = 10 × 10 = 100, and 10³ = 1,000. The exponent tells how many zeros.
Worked examples
Example 1
Find 3.47 × 100.
- Multiplying by 100 moves each digit 2 places left
- 3.47 becomes 347
Answer: 347
Example 2
Find 52 ÷ 1,000.
- Dividing by 1,000 moves each digit 3 places right
- 52 → 0.052
Answer: 0.052
Practice
Try these on paper first, then check your work.
- 6.2 × 10
- 45 ÷ 100
- Write 10⁴ as a number
- 0.9 × 1,000
Show the answer key
- 62
- 0.45
- 10,000
- 900