“Everything is so linear, but this makes me think diagonally!” ~ a student describing Byrdseed.TV

Alabama Math Standard: 5.NBT.A.3.b

Explain patterns in the placement of the decimal point when a decimal is multiplied or divided by a power of 10, using whole-number exponents to denote powers of 10.

Calculators, Patterns, and Multiplying By Decimals

Calculators, Patterns, and Multiplying By Decimals

Before teaching students the procedure for multiplying with decimals, how much can they intuitively glean from a structured play session with calculators?