Final answer:
To solve 18.8 x 3.18, multiply the numbers as whole numbers and then add the decimal place back to have three decimal places in the result, giving 59.784, or 59.8 when rounded to three significant figures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks for the product of two decimal numbers: 18.8 and 3.18. To find the solution, we will proceed with the multiplication as follows:
- Write down the numbers, making sure to align them correctly.
- Multiply as if they were whole numbers (ignore the decimal points for now).
- Add the decimal points back into the product. The number of decimal places in the result is the sum of the decimal places in the numbers being multiplied.
In this case, we have 18.8 (one decimal place) multiplied by 3.18 (two decimal places), so the final answer should have three decimal places.
Multiplication:
188 x 318 = 59784
Inserting the decimal place:
59.784 (three decimal places since the original numbers have three decimal places in total)
Using significant figures, if required by the context, the answer should be rounded according to the least number of significant figures in the given numbers. Since both numbers have three significant figures, the answer should also be limited to three significant figures, which would be 59.8.