How to use this sheet

  • Have the child write a few products as a pattern first: 3 × 10, 3 × 100, 3 × 1,000.
  • Use a place value chart and move the digits, rather than "adding zeros", so the rule also works for decimals.
  • For exponents, have the child count the zeros of 10 raised to a power and match them to the exponent.

Common mistakes

  • Saying multiplying by 10 "adds a zero", which breaks for 0.3 × 10. Each digit moves one place left instead.
  • Moving the digits the wrong way when dividing by a power of ten. Dividing makes the number smaller.
  • Reading 10 to the power 4 as 10 × 4. It is four tens multiplied: 10 × 10 × 10 × 10.

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