To multiply decimals in Year 8 Mathematics, follow these simple steps:

1. Ignore the Decimals: For now, act like the decimals are whole numbers. For example, if you’re multiplying $2.5$ and $3.4$, think of them as $25$ and $34$.

2. Multiply the Whole Numbers: Do the multiplication like you would with whole numbers. So for $25 \times 34$, you get $850$.

3. Count the Decimal Places: Look at how many decimal places there are in the original numbers. Here’s how it works:

   • $2.5$ has $1$ decimal place.
   • $3.4$ has $1$ decimal place.
   • Add them up: $1 + 1 = 2$ decimal places total.

4. Place the Decimal: Now, take the number you got ($850$) and put the decimal point in based on the total number of decimal places you counted. So, $850$ becomes $8.50$ or just $8.5$.

5. Check Your Work: To make sure you did it right, try estimating the answer before doing the actual multiplication.

That's it! You've successfully multiplied decimals!