I have heard stories that multiplication timetables are not so important. I’ve heard adults saying that they have never properly learnt multiplication tables and they live and don’t use them. Ok, fair enough…
But… why?
Why not be able to calculate the discount in the shops quickly in your head?
To compare different offers?
To effortlessly calculate the multiple of the things you want?
Not even mention the other life maths calculations like budgeting, cost of living, interests, taxes and more. Whether scaling recipes in the kitchen, determining distances on a map, or planning home improvement projects, the ability to multiply mentally proves handy in diverse scenarios.
Memorising multiplication might seem like a daunting and mundane task. But learning them by heart is a key to fluency in higher, more complex maths. Is there anything to help your child master the tables and make the task not only achievable but exciting?
Good news!
There are a few tips and tricks of the mind that could be helpful on the way!
First thing first – we will be focusing on memorisation of timetables up to 10.
There are 100 basic facts to conquer. But… once you learn them you will unlock a powerful tool to more complex maths later on.
Does 100 facts sound daunting?
1 x tables are super easy – not much to memorise, so we are only left with 90 facts.
If we can multiply by 1 then multiplying by 10 is also easy. We only add one 0 to the number we are multiplying by, right?
10 x 1 = 10
10 x 2 = 20
10 x 3 = 30
10 x 4 = 40
10 x 5 = 50
10 x 6 = 60
10 x 7 = 70
10 x 8 = 80
10 x 9 = 90
10 x 10 =100
80 facts left. Let’s move on to easy 2 x tables or doubling.
2 x 1 = 2
2 x 2 = 4
2 x 3 = 6
2 x 4 = 8
2 x 5 = 10
2 x 6 = 12
2 x 7 = 14
2 x 8 = 16
2 x 9 = 18
2 x 10 = 20
Did your child master doubling? Let’s move on to 4x tables – which is nothing else but doubling 2 x tables:
4 x 1 = (2 x 1) doubled = 2 x 2 = 4
4 x 2 = (2 x 2) doubled = 2 x 4 = 8
4 x 3 = (2 x 3) doubled = 2 x 6 = 12
4 x 4 = (2 x 4) doubled = 2 x 8 = 16
4 x 5 = (2 x 5) doubled = 2 x 10 = 20
4 x 6 = (2 x 6) doubled = 2 x 12 = 24
4 x 7 = (2 x 7) doubled = 2 x 14 = 28
4 x 8 = (2 x 8) doubled = 2 x 16 = 32
4 x 9 = (2 x 9) doubled = 2 x 18 = 36
4 x 10 = (2 x 10) doubled = 2 x 20 = 40
The next easy timetable would be 5s. First practice skip counting by 5 then add the facts to make connections between skip counting and multiplication.
5 x 1 = 5
5 x 2 = 10
5 x 3 = 15
5 x 4 = 20
5 x 5 = 25
5 x 6 = 30
5 x 7 = 35
5 x 8 = 40
5 x 9 = 45
5 x 10 = 50
Look we have already mastered 60 facts, which leaves 40 more. Or does it? I’ll tell you a secret – you already know half of these facts!
Let’s look at 3 x tables:
3 x 1 – you already know the 1s
3 x 2 – you already know the 2s
3 x 3 = 9 – you need to master this one
3 x 4 – you already know the 4s
3 x 5 – you already know the 5s
3 x 6 = 18
3 x 7 = 21
3 x 8 = 24
3 x 9 = 27
3 x 10 – you already know this one either!
Isn’t it getting easier and easier?
What are we left with? 6x tables – it is doubling 3 x tables!
If you know that 3 x 1 = 3 then all you need to do is double the answer to find how much is 6 x 1
6 x 1 = (3 x 1) doubled = 3 x 2 = 6
6 x 2 = (3 x 2) doubled = 6 x 2 = 12
6 x 3 = (3 x 3) doubled = 9 x 2 = 18
6 x 4 = (3 x 4) doubled = 12 x 2 = 24
6 x 5 = (3 x 5) doubled = 15 x 2 = 30
6 x 6 = (3 x 6) doubled = 18 x 2 = 36
6 x 7 = (3 x 7) doubled = 21 x 2 = 42
6 x 8 = (3 x 8) doubled = 24 x 2 = 48
6 x 9 = (3 x 9) doubled = 27 x 2 = 54
6 x 10 = (3 x 10) doubled = 30 x 2 = 60
One of my favourite tables are 9 x table. It is simply cool. Let’s have a closer look.
9 x 1 = 09
9 x 2 = 18
9 x 3 = 27
9 x 4 = 36
9 x 5 = 45
9 x 6 = 54
9 x 7 = 63
9 x 8 = 72
9 x 9 = 81
9 x 10 = 90
Have you noticed anything about the answers? The first digits of the answers line up from 0 to 9, while the second digits are going down from 9 to 0. There is another tip to quickly remember the 9 x table answer – it always starts from the digit 1 less than the number you are multiplying by.
The answer to 9 x 5 starts with 4 which is 1 less than 5. And both digits have to add up to 9! So if the answer to 9 x 5 starts with 4 the second digit has to be 5 because 4 + 5 = 9. And so 9 x 5 = 45. Try it with every fact in the 9 x tables. Isn’t it magical?
We are left with 8 x and 7 x tables. But first, let’s look at the multiplication chart to see how much we have already conquered!
You see – there are only 4 facts left to learn… actually, only 2 because I hope you have noticed that 7 x 8 is the same as 8 x 7!
And this way we have conquered all 100 facts. The moment you realise it is not at all a difficult task you are on the path to mastering multiplication tables. It will instil confidence in mathematical abilities. This confidence can positively impact your child’s approach to learning and applying mathematical concepts throughout life. In essence, multiplication tables serve as a practical and foundational skill that goes beyond academic requirements. They empower individuals to navigate daily challenges, make informed decisions, and approach mathematical concepts with confidence, contributing to a well-rounded and adaptable skill set.
For extra practice drills I can recommend this book!
Or you are welcomed to my multiplication charts to help your child with memorisation of the facts by visualising the numbers. Once we SEE the numbers it is often more easy to remember them. It includes a blank chart to keep practising, as well as 12 x tables. Try it and have fun!
