Multiplication tricks for every times table: Free Printable Sheet

Times table tricks

Ages 7 to 10

The 9s on your fingers

Hold up 10 fingers. For 9 × 4, fold down finger 4. Fingers on the left are tens (3), on the right are ones (6).

9 × 4 = 36

× 0

Anything times 0 is 0.

7 × 0 = 0

× 1

The number stays the same.

8 × 1 = 8

× 2

Double it.

2 × 7 = 7 + 7 = 14

× 3

Double it, then add one more.

3 × 6 = 12 + 6 = 18

× 4

Double, then double again.

4 × 7: 14, 28

× 5

Half of × 10. Answers end in 5 or 0.

5 × 8 = 80 ÷ 2 = 40

× 6

× 5, then add one more. With an even number, the answer ends in it.

6 × 4 = 24, 6 × 8 = 48

× 7

× 5 plus × 2. And 5, 6, 7, 8: 56 = 7 × 8.

7 × 6 = 30 + 12 = 42

× 8

Double, double, double.

8 × 6: 12, 24, 48

× 9

Use your fingers (see above). The digits add up to 9.

9 × 7 = 63, 6 + 3 = 9

× 10

Write a 0 at the end.

10 × 9 = 90

× 11

Up to 9, write the number twice.

11 × 4 = 44

× 12

× 10 plus × 2.

12 × 7 = 70 + 14 = 84

💡 Memory tip: You only need about 36 facts: once you know 3 × 7, you also know 7 × 3. Learn 2, 5 and 10 first, then 3, 4, 9 and 11, and save 6, 7, 8 and 12 for last.

foxandpencil.com

Practise it

Times tables worksheets 9 times table worksheets Multiplication worksheets

Print the sheet for the fridge or the homework folder, and look at one idea a day. Kids learn a strategy best when they say it out loud while they use it: "8 and 2 make 10, and 3 more is 13."

More tip sheets

Number bonds to 10The pairs that make 10, shown with a rainbow, a ten-frame, fingers and part-whole circles.Addition strategiesSix ways to add without counting every dot.Subtraction strategiesSix ways to take away.How multiplication worksWhat times means, shown with equal groups, arrays, skip counting, turn-arounds, doubling and breaking a fact apart.How division worksSharing, grouping, thinking in times tables, jumping back, remainders and the four steps of long division.Printable multiplication chartA colorful times table chart from 1 to 10 (1 to 100), 1 to 12 or 1 to 20.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What is the trick for the 9 times table?

Hold up 10 fingers and fold down the finger for the number you multiply by. For 9 × 4, fold the 4th finger: the 3 fingers on its left are the tens and the 6 on its right are the ones, so 9 × 4 = 36. Also, the two digits of a 9s answer always add up to 9.

Which times tables should kids learn first?

Start with 2, 5 and 10, which follow easy patterns. Then 3, 4 and 11, then 9 with the finger trick, and leave 6, 7, 8 and 12 for last. Because 3 × 7 = 7 × 3, every table you learn makes the next one shorter.

What is the hardest times table?

Most kids find 7 and 8 the hardest, and 7 × 8 = 56 is the most missed fact. The rhyme "5, 6, 7, 8: 56 is 7 times 8" helps.

Planning more than homework?

Our sister site Plan Your Kid helps you pick a name your child can grow with, and predicts how tall they'll be.

Visit Plan Your Kid