What is the product of 9.6 and 3.3?

• A. 32.04
• B. 31.68
• C. 31.2
• D. 33.6

Answer: (B)

When you multiply decimals, multiply as if there were no decimal points, then place the decimal so the total number of decimal places matches the sum of decimal places in the factors. Here, each number has one decimal place, so the product should have two decimal places.

So multiply 9.6 and 3.3 as whole numbers: 96 × 33 = 3168. With two decimal places total, the result is 31.68.

You can see it another way by splitting: 9.6 × 3.3 = 9.6 × (3 + 0.3) = 28.8 + 2.88 = 31.68.

Thus the product is 31.68.