Teachers have been using multiplication tables as a tool for teaching the mathematical operation to children for as long as anyone can remember. However, consistently remembering times tables has remained as elusive ever. Many children continue to find it difficult to memorize their multiplication tables.
Here are some very useful tips that could help them get over that multiplication table hill.
Two times tables tip
When multiplying any number by two, just add the number to itself.
For example:
2 × 9 = 9 + 9 = 18
2 × 7 = 7 + 7 = 14
Five times tables tips
The last digit of any number multiplied by five will alternately be 5 and 0.
The answer will also be always half of any result in the 10 times table.
For example:
5 × 8 (=40) is half of 10 × 8 (=80)
Another way to remember this trick is that the answer is always half the number times 10.
For example:
5 × 8 = 10 × 4 = 40
Six times tables tips
Multiply 6 by any even number and the end digit will be the same as that even number.
For example:
6 × 4 = 24
6 × 6 = 36
6 × 8 = 48
You can also remember the multiplication table for the number 5 and then add one more number to the result.
For example:
6 × 3 = 5 × 3 + 3 = 15 + 3 = 18
Seven times tables tips
Seven times something is eight times something minus something.
For example: 7 × 5 = 8 × 5 – 5, which means 40 – 5 = 35.
Many people find it hard to remember 7 × 8 = 56
The best trick to remember this is to just count the number sequence 5, 6, 7, 8 and then use it:
56 = 7 × 8
Nine times tables tips
The last digit of the product will always go in this sequence: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 and so on. For example: 9 × 1 = 9; 9 × 2 = 18; 9 × 3 = 27; 9 × 4 = 36; 9 × 5 = 45……
One of the more fascinating nine times tables tips will always be the fact that the sum of the digits of each product will always be 9. For example: 2 × 9 = 18, 1 + 8 = 9; 7 × 9 = 63, 6 + 3 = 9.
Another approach is to calculate 10 × the number and then subtract the number from the result. In other words, to calculate 9 × 2, compute 10 × 2 and then subtract 2.
Another example for this: 9 × 8 = 10 × 8 – 8 = 80 – 8 = 72
Ten times tables tip
The ten times table is one of the easiest tables to remember. Just add a zero to the end of any number you want to multiply by 10.
For example: 10 × 3 = 30 or 10 x 10 = 100.
Eleven times tables tip
When multiplying 11 by any number up to 9, just write that number down twice. For example: 8 x 11 = 88; 3 x 11 = 33 and so on.
Then all you will have to remember is the results for 11 × 11 (= 121) and 11 × 12 (=132)
Choose what works best
As you can see, there are many ways and tricks to remember the multiplication tables. Pick the technique that works best for you and keep practising. It will get easier and easier.
Also, if you haven’t done so yet – be sure to check out our free trial of MathRider – the best way I know to remembering multiplication tables (and more…).
