They are asked what strategy they used to place the decimal point. An example is presented, 0.6 X 26. Three steps are outlined, basically saying to multiply as with whole numbers and use the estimate to place the decimal. Two more examples using estimation to place the decimal are then given. Finally, a table with four decimal products is shown and students are instructed to look for a pattern.
Students use estimation or estimation and patterns to place the decimals in the problem set.
Part 2 of this lesson continues the topic by including information about adding leading zeros to complete the solution. Two examples are given in which the number of decimal places is simply asserted, and thus zeros are added. Students are asked but never told how the number of decimal places is known. This part adds a small section on calculators so that students will investigate the calculator dropping trailing zeros in decimal products. Lesson 5 introduces the product of two mixed decimals .