If you multiply two decimals that are less than 1, can you predict whether the product will be less than or greater than either of the factors? Explain.

If we multiply two decimals that are less than one, we can assume that the product will be less than either of it's factors. This is because we are taking less than the full amount of both. Take the example below.

.25 *.8 =.2

Notice that the answer of. 2 is less than either of the terms. You can try this with any combination and it will always be the case.

The only exception to this rule is if we use negatives. Technically decimals that are negative are less than one and we could make them greater than their terms if we use two negatives. See the example below.

-.25 * -.8 =.2

Since the answer is positive, it is higher than either of the terms. If you are not looking for negatives though, it is always lower.