Multiplication Table 1 to 10 and Tricks to Learn It

I used to run from the 7 times table like a panda runs from a bath. Then I found out you do not need to memorize 100 facts: with a couple of tricks, very little is left to learn by heart.

Here is the full multiplication table from 1 to 10, followed by the tricks I use for each number.

Play Gridspark

The trick that cuts the table in half

Order does not change the answer: 3 × 7 is the same as 7 × 3. So if you know your 3s, you already know part of your 7s.

Times table for 1

• 1 × 1 = 1
• 1 × 2 = 2
• 1 × 3 = 3
• 1 × 4 = 4
• 1 × 5 = 5
• 1 × 6 = 6
• 1 × 7 = 7
• 1 × 8 = 8
• 1 × 9 = 9
• 1 × 10 = 10

Times table for 2

• 2 × 1 = 2
• 2 × 2 = 4
• 2 × 3 = 6
• 2 × 4 = 8
• 2 × 5 = 10
• 2 × 6 = 12
• 2 × 7 = 14
• 2 × 8 = 16
• 2 × 9 = 18
• 2 × 10 = 20

Times table for 3

• 3 × 1 = 3
• 3 × 2 = 6
• 3 × 3 = 9
• 3 × 4 = 12
• 3 × 5 = 15
• 3 × 6 = 18
• 3 × 7 = 21
• 3 × 8 = 24
• 3 × 9 = 27
• 3 × 10 = 30

Times table for 4

• 4 × 1 = 4
• 4 × 2 = 8
• 4 × 3 = 12
• 4 × 4 = 16
• 4 × 5 = 20
• 4 × 6 = 24
• 4 × 7 = 28
• 4 × 8 = 32
• 4 × 9 = 36
• 4 × 10 = 40

Times table for 5

• 5 × 1 = 5
• 5 × 2 = 10
• 5 × 3 = 15
• 5 × 4 = 20
• 5 × 5 = 25
• 5 × 6 = 30
• 5 × 7 = 35
• 5 × 8 = 40
• 5 × 9 = 45
• 5 × 10 = 50

Times table for 6

• 6 × 1 = 6
• 6 × 2 = 12
• 6 × 3 = 18
• 6 × 4 = 24
• 6 × 5 = 30
• 6 × 6 = 36
• 6 × 7 = 42
• 6 × 8 = 48
• 6 × 9 = 54
• 6 × 10 = 60

Times table for 7

• 7 × 1 = 7
• 7 × 2 = 14
• 7 × 3 = 21
• 7 × 4 = 28
• 7 × 5 = 35
• 7 × 6 = 42
• 7 × 7 = 49
• 7 × 8 = 56
• 7 × 9 = 63
• 7 × 10 = 70

Times table for 8

• 8 × 1 = 8
• 8 × 2 = 16
• 8 × 3 = 24
• 8 × 4 = 32
• 8 × 5 = 40
• 8 × 6 = 48
• 8 × 7 = 56
• 8 × 8 = 64
• 8 × 9 = 72
• 8 × 10 = 80

Times table for 9

• 9 × 1 = 9
• 9 × 2 = 18
• 9 × 3 = 27
• 9 × 4 = 36
• 9 × 5 = 45
• 9 × 6 = 54
• 9 × 7 = 63
• 9 × 8 = 72
• 9 × 9 = 81
• 9 × 10 = 90

Times table for 10

• 10 × 1 = 10
• 10 × 2 = 20
• 10 × 3 = 30
• 10 × 4 = 40
• 10 × 5 = 50
• 10 × 6 = 60
• 10 × 7 = 70
• 10 × 8 = 80
• 10 × 9 = 90
• 10 × 10 = 100

Tricks for each number

• 1s: the answer is the number itself.
• 2s: double it. 2 × 8 = 8 + 8 = 16.
• 4s: double, then double again. 4 × 7: double 7 is 14, double 14 is 28.
• 5s: the answer always ends in 0 or 5. It is half of the 10s: 5 × 8 is half of 80, so 40.
• 6s: with an even number, the answer ends in that same number. 6 × 2 = 12, 6 × 4 = 24, 6 × 6 = 36, 6 × 8 = 48.
• 8s: double three times. 8 × 3: 6, 12, 24.
• 10s: just add a zero at the end.

The 9s on your fingers

1. Hold both hands up in front of you.
2. For 9 × 4, fold down the fourth finger, counting from the left.
3. The fingers left of the folded one are the tens (3) and the ones on the right are the units (6).
4. Answer: 36.

The hardest facts

Almost everyone gets stuck on these. Worth learning on purpose:

• 6 × 7 = 42
• 6 × 8 = 48
• 7 × 7 = 49
• 7 × 8 = 56
• 7 × 9 = 63
• 8 × 8 = 64

Practicing with Gridspark

The Gridspark board has 8 rows and 8 columns: 8 × 8 = 64 squares. You fit blocks, clear rows and columns and chain combos.

And the combos grow. At combo x6 the column gave +350; at x15, +800.

PolarzinhoCombo x15. Now I wish I knew my 15 times table.

FAQ

What is the fastest way to learn the times tables?

Start with the easy ones (1, 2, 5 and 10), use the order swap (3 × 7 = 7 × 3) and practice a little every day, out loud.

What is 7 × 8?

56.

What is 6 × 7?

42.

How do you do the 9 times table on your fingers?

Fold the finger for the number you are multiplying: fingers on the left are the tens and fingers on the right are the units.

Your turn

Quick, no paper: 7 × 6, 8 × 7 and 9 × 8. Then do 9 × 8 on your fingers to check.

Play Gridspark