Explain why o.25 x 0.4 only has one decimal place in the product 

When multiplying decimal numbers, the number of decimal places in the product is determined by the total number of decimal places in the factors. Here's a step-by-step explanation:

1. **Identify Decimal Places in Factors**: 
   - The number 0.25 has **two decimal places** (hundredths).
   - The number 0.4 has **one decimal place** (tenths).

2. **Add Decimal Places**: 
   - To determine the number of decimal places in the product, add the number of decimal places in each factor. So, 2 decimal places (from 0.25) + 1 decimal place (from 0.4) = **3 decimal places**.

3. **Multiply the Numbers**:
   - When multiplying 0.25 by 0.4, treat the numbers as if they are whole numbers (i.e., multiply 25 by 4), and you get 100. Then, apply the decimal places you counted earlier (3 decimal places total), and place the decimal in the product to get **0.100**.

4. **Simplification**: 
   - The result of 0.100 can be simplified to **0.1**, which has only **one decimal place**. This is because trailing zeros after the decimal point don't affect the value of the number.

Thus, even though the multiplication involves a total of three decimal places, the final result of 0.25 × 0.4 = 0.1 simplifies to a number with one decimal place.

Would you like further details or have any questions?

### Related Questions:
1. What happens when multiplying two numbers with trailing zeros?
2. How do you multiply decimals without a calculator?
3. What is the difference between decimal places and significant figures?
4. Can you explain why 0.100 is the same as 0.1?
5. How does decimal multiplication relate to fractions?

### Tip:
Always count the total number of decimal places in the factors before multiplying decimals.

Explore the concept of decimal multiplication with a focus on why the product of 0.25 and 0.4 results in 0.1. This educational article provides step-by-step explanation on how decimal places affect the product, suitable for students in Grades 4-6.

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