1. **State the problem:** Calculate the product of 5.4 and 3.2. 2. **Formula used:** Multiplication of two decimal numbers is done by multiplying as if they were whole numbers and then placing the decimal point in the product. 3. **Step-by-step solution:** - Multiply 54 by 32 (ignoring decimals): $$54 \times 32 = 1728$$ - Count total decimal places in both numbers: 5.4 has 1 decimal place, 3.2 has 1 decimal place, total 2 decimal places. - Place the decimal point in 1728 to have 2 decimal places: $$17.28$$ 4. **Final answer:** $$5.4 \times 3.2 = 17.28$$ This means when you multiply 5.4 by 3.2, the result is 17.28.