Explain how to multiply a decimal by a percentage.

To multiply a decimal by a percentage, convert the percentage to a decimal and then multiply the two decimals.

When you need to multiply a decimal by a percentage, the first step is to convert the percentage into a decimal. This is done by dividing the percentage by 100. For example, if you have 25%, you convert it to a decimal by calculating 25 ÷ 100, which equals 0.25.

Next, you take the decimal number you want to multiply and simply multiply it by the decimal form of the percentage. For instance, if you want to multiply 0.6 by 25%, you first convert 25% to 0.25. Then, you multiply 0.6 by 0.25. The calculation would be 0.6 × 0.25, which equals 0.15.

Let's break it down with another example. Suppose you want to multiply 0.75 by 40%. First, convert 40% to a decimal by dividing 40 by 100, which gives you 0.4. Then, multiply 0.75 by 0.4. The calculation is 0.75 × 0.4, which equals 0.3.

Remember, converting the percentage to a decimal is crucial because it allows you to use straightforward multiplication. This method works for any decimal and percentage combination, making it a versatile and essential skill in GCSE Maths.