H.O.T. Problems Higher Order Thinking
15. CSS. Persevere with Problems Evaluate the expression 0.1(3.7) mentally.
Justify your response using the Distributive Property.

To evaluate the expression 0.1(3.7) mentally, you can break it down into simpler steps. First, think of 0.1 as 1/10, which means you want to find one-tenth of 3.7. Since 3.7 is the same as 37 tenths, taking one-tenth of that gives you 3.7 ÷ 10 = 0.37.

Using the Distributive Property to justify this, you can think of 0.1(3.7) as 0.1 * (3 + 0.7). Distributing gives us 0.1 * 3 + 0.1 * 0.7, which equals 0.3 + 0.07 = 0.37! This showcases how breaking numbers down can make mental calculations easier and validate your answer.

In the real world, understanding how to manipulate decimal expressions is key in fields such as finance and science. For example, if you’re calculating a 10% tip on a $37 meal, it’s the same math! If you can quickly find that 10% is $3.70, you’re set to impress at dinner without even pulling out your calculator. Remember, real-life applications often rely on these foundational math skills!