Multiply and Divide Powers of Ten

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Before you can help Damien calculate his number of views, you must go over multiplying and dividing with powers of 10.

• What is a power of 10?

A power of 10 is a base of 10 multiplied by 10 as many times as the whole number exponent says to use in the multiplication.

For example, look at some powers of 10.

10¹ = 10

10² = 10 x 10 = 100

10³ = 10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000

10⁴ = 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10,000

• Do you notice any patterns?

Look more closely!

10¹ = 10

• The exponent tells you there is only one 10.
• The exponent is 1, so you write one zero after the 1.

10² = 10 x 10 = 100

• The exponent tells you there are two 10s.
• The exponent is 2, so you write two zeros after the 1.

10³ = 10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000

• The exponent tells you there are three 10s.
• The exponent is 3, so you write three zeros after the 1.

10⁴ = 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10,000

• The exponent tells you there are four 10s.
• The exponent is 4, so you write four zeros after the 1.

Now that you see the patterns, check to make sure you understand the powers of 10!

You are ready to multiply and divide with the powers of 10. You are one step closer to helping Damien go viral!

See if you notice any similar patterns.

Look at the example of a decimal being multiplied by powers of 10.

You know 10¹ is equal to 10. Therefore, you can multiply 8.7 by 10.

When multiplying by 10, you move the decimal point one time to the RIGHT.

Look more closely at other examples.

You know 10² is equal to 100. Therefore, you can multiply 8.7 by 100.

When multiplying by 100, you move the decimal point two times to the RIGHT.

x 10³ means you move the decimal point three times to the RIGHT.

x 10⁴ means you move the decimal point four times to the RIGHT.

• Do you notice a pattern?

When multiplying by a power of 10, you will move the decimal point to the RIGHT the same number of times as the exponent.

Try finding the next answer in this pattern.

• But what about dividing by powers of 10?

It’s the same pattern; however, when you divide, a number gets smaller, so you move the decimal point to the LEFT.

Look at the examples below and see if you can spot the pattern.

Now, try finding the next answer in this pattern.

If you need more help before practicing independently, watch the following video.

When you are ready, click next to visit the Got It? section.