Multiplying and dividing by powers of ten made simple
21 October 2026
Multiplying and dividing by powers of ten
Understanding how to multiply and divide by powers of ten is a key skill for the 11+ maths exam. It helps children work quickly with large and small numbers, and is often tested in reasoning and calculation sections.
What happens to numbers
When you multiply a number by 10, 100, or 1000, each digit moves one, two, or three places to the left. When you divide by 10, 100, or 1000, each digit moves to the right. The decimal point stays in the same place, but the digits shift.
Worked example
Let's multiply 4.56 by 100.
Step 1: Start with 4.56.
Step 2: Multiplying by 100 means moving each digit two places to the left.
Step 3: The digits shift, so 4.56 becomes 456.
The correct answer is 456.
Practice makes perfect
If you'd like more practice materials on multiplying and dividing by powers of ten, visit our powers of ten multiply divide full package page for a full set of worksheets.
Key insight: Shifting digits left or right is the core idea when multiplying or dividing by powers of ten. Encourage your child to look at the movement of digits, not just add or remove zeros.
