Step by step
The question
Question: change £60 to dollars, when £1 = $1.25.
£1 = $1.25. Change £60 to dollars.
1 Write the rate
The rate says: 1 pound is worth 1.25 dollars.
£1 = $1.25
From pounds to dollars, we multiply by 1.25.
Going back, we divide by 1.25.
pounds → dollars: × 1.25
dollars → pounds: ÷ 1.25
2 Multiply by the rate
Each pound is worth $1.25.
60 pounds are worth 60 times as much.
£60 = 60 × $1.25
60 times 1.25 is $75.
= $75
To multiply decimals: first 60 times 125, as whole numbers.
That is 7500.
Then count the decimal places: 2.
60 × 125 = 7500
2 decimal places: 75
Careful!
Check the direction.
Pounds to dollars: we multiply by the rate.
Careful: pounds → dollars: × the rate
So £60 is $75.
3 Check
Let's check: change the answer back.
$75 divided by 1.25 is £60.
change it back: $75 ÷ 1.25 = 60
That is what we started with.
So the answer is right!
£60 — what we started with
Let's look back.
First: write the rate.
Then: multiply by the rate.
Last: check.
Answer
Careful: pounds → dollars: × the rate