[Math] How to explain why multiplying $0.8 \times 0.8$ is less than $0.8$

arithmetic

I'm math is very rusty so forgive me for a trivial question.

In my daughters home work she had the sum $4.8 \times 4.8$. Her thought process was to multiply $4 \times 4 =16$ and then $0.8 \times 0.8$ (which she arrived at $6.4$) and she added the two values together giving $22.4$.

Now I know you multiply by ignoring the decimal place $48 \times 48 = 2304$ and add in the decimal place afterwards 23.04. I struggled to explain why.

She then asked why $0.8 \times 0.8 = 0.64$. I'm at a loss why.

Can anyone explain this to me so I can explain it to my daughter.?

Thanks
Ste

Best Answer

$0.8 \times $ something is the same as taking $80\%$ and this is less than $100\%$.