How to Learn Times Tables

Many people of all ages struggle with learning their times tables. If they have to learn up to the ten times table, they picture the 100 facts they have to learn and are overwhelmed by the task. Many people learn up to the five times table and then are intimidated by the larger numbers.

This fear is not necessary. If you have learned up to your 5 times table, you can learn all the way up to the ten times table in no time at all. In fact there are just 6 key facts to learn:

• 6 x 6 = 36
• 7 x 6 = 42
• 8 x 6 = 48
• 7 x 7 = 49
• 8 x 7 = 56
• 8 x 8 = 64

This doesn't seem to make sense, but when you want to learn multiplication facts you have to divide and conquer!

More Good News: If you check the bottom of this article, you'll see I've found some tricks, rhymes and a video that will help you to remember these 6 key facts.

Multiplication is a commutative operation. This means that you can reverse the order of the numbers and the answer will be the same. So for example:

• 8 x 6 = 48 and
• 6 x 8 = 48

So when you are learning your times tables you get two for the price of one. When you are learning your times tables up to the five times tables, this helps you learn the one to 5 times tables more quickly. In addition, once you have learned up to the five times table, you will know half of the six, seven, eight, nine and ten times tables.

Continuing the theme of divide and conquer, we can conquer the nine and ten times tables. I guess that everyone knows their tens times table and most people know a trick to learn their nine times table.

If you don't know a nine times table trick, there are a number to choose from. Some involve very easy mental arithmetic, others get you to use your fingers. It's best to choose the trick that works for you. Just google "nine times trick" and pick your favorite. if you take the time to go through one or two examples and make the choice, it will stick.

If you remember that multiplication is commutative. If you know 7 x 6 = 42 you know 6 x 7 = 42 and if you know 8 x 6 = 48 you know 6 x 8 = 48 and if you know 8 x 7 = 56 you know 7 x 8 = 56 and you will be able to reduce the number of facts left to learn down to the final six mentioned at the beginning. You might even find that you have already learned some of these final six just by reading this article.

• 6 x 6 = 36
• 7 x 6 = 42
• 8 x 6 = 48
• 7 x 7 = 49
• 8 x 7 = 56
• 8 x 8 = 64

If you read this article 2 or 3 times you will be surprised how much you will retain. Here is the final grid truly divided and conquered!

I developed this method when I was writing up my maths GCSE blog and my children found that it helped them. What do you think? Do you know any other tricks that I should in include in my maths blog?

Even though we've narrowed the challenge down to just 6 facts, I thought I'd share some neat tricks or rhymes to help:-

8 x 8 = 64

Thanks to Kay (see comments below) for a simple way to remember 8 x 8. Kay writes:-

8 x 8. I ate and I ate until I was sick on the floor. 64

As I replied to Kay, once spoken, never forgotten.

7 x 8 = 56

I also came across a little trick for 7 x 8 (or 8 x7) , just reverse it so instead of 7 x 8 = 56, think about:-

56 = 7 x 8 - Do you see? That's just 5,6,7 and 8

There's also a comment below to help with the 6 times table. It's best explained by walking through each fact:

6 x 6 = 36

The trick is to first subtract 5 from the number you are multiplying:-

6 - 5 = 1

Then multiply this number by 6:-

1 x 6 = 6

Then just add 30:-

6 + 30 = 36 and there's your answer 6 x 6 = 36

This method can be used for any part of the 6 times table from 6 x 6 upwards.

Let's do it for 7 x 6 and 8 x 6:-

7 x 6

7 - 5 = 2

2 x 6 = 12

12 + 30 = 42

8 x 6

8 - 5 = 3

3 x 6 =18

18 + 30 = 48

So now for the last six facts we have tricks or sayings for:

• 6 x 6 = 36
• 7 x 6 = 42
• 8 x 6 = 48
• 7 x 8 = 56
• 8 x 8 = 64

That just leaves 7 x 7 = 49

But good news! I came across this ingenious little video on YouTube (see video below) that shows how you can use your fingers to do any multiplication from 6 x 6 = 36 right through to 10 x 10 =100. It's a fun video and I think most children would actually enjoy using their fingers in this way.

Even better, the first multiplication fact that is demonstrated on the video is 7 x 7 = 49!

I'm really pleased to have found these little tricks (and thanks to everybody that pointed me in the right direction). Some people may say: "Why all this messing around? Just learn your times tables!" I think just the act of working through these tricks (perhaps they should be called techniques) and sayings implants the facts in your memory. The funnier or more absurd the trick the more likely you are to remember.