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Multiplication tables made easy

Understand multiplication as repeated addition and learn tricks and patterns that make tables easy to remember.

Get the whole book: Maths for classes 3 to 5 (4 lessons, free to print)

Let us begin

The big idea

Multiplication is a quick way to add the same number again and again. Once you see the patterns, tables become fun and easy to remember.

Multiplication means groups of equal size. 4 × 6 means 4 groups of 6, which is 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24.

The order does not matter. 4 × 6 = 6 × 4. This halves the tables you need to learn.

There are patterns. The table of 2 gives even numbers. The table of 5 ends in 0 or 5. The table of 10 adds a zero at the end.

For the table of 4, double the number and then double again. For 9, the digits of each answer up to 9 × 10 add up to 9: 18, 27, 36, 45 and so on.

To find a harder fact, use an easy one. 6 × 8 is 5 × 8 plus one more 8: 40 + 8 = 48.

An array for 4 × 6Twenty-four dots arranged in 4 rows with 6 dots in each row. Next to it, the working shows 4 rows of 6, which is 6 + 6 + 6 + 6, which is 24. 4 rows of 6 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24 4 × 6 = 24 and 6 × 4 = 24
4 rows of 6 dots make 24 dots. Turn it sideways and you get 6 rows of 4.

Worked examples

See how it works

  1. Repeated addition: 7 × 4

    7 × 4 means 4 groups of 7. 7 + 7 = 14, 14 + 7 = 21, 21 + 7 = 28. So 7 × 4 = 28.

  2. A trick for 9 times: 9 × 7

    Take 1 less than 7. That is 6, and it is the tens digit. Then find what adds with 6 to make 9. That is 3, the ones digit. So 9 × 7 = 63. Check: 6 + 3 = 9.

  3. Build from 5: 6 × 8

    5 × 8 = 40. One more group of 8 is 8. So 6 × 8 = 40 + 8 = 48.

  4. Double and double: 4 × 7

    Double 7 to get 14. Double 14 to get 28. So 4 × 7 = 28.

Try it at home

Stone arrays

You will need

  • 24 small stones, beans or buttons
  • Paper and a pencil

What to do

  1. Put the 24 stones in 4 rows of 6. Write 4 × 6 = 24.

  2. Turn the paper around. Now there are 6 rows of 4. Write 6 × 4 = 24.

  3. Try 3 rows of 8, 2 rows of 12 and 1 row of 24.

  4. Write all the multiplication facts you found.

  5. Try again with 18 stones. How many different arrays can you make?

Ask a grown-up

Keep small stones and beans away from younger children who might put them in their mouths.

Fun fact

In the 9 times table, the digits of every answer from 9 × 1 to 9 × 10 add up to 9.

Practice sheet

Check what you learned

Write your answers in a notebook, or print this sheet and write on it. When you finish, mark your work with the answer key.

Practice sheet: Multiplication tables made easy (Classes 3-5, Maths)

  1. 3 × 5 = ?
  2. 6 × 7 = ?
  3. 8 × 4 = ?
  4. 9 × 6 = ?
  5. 7 × 8 = ?
  6. Which is bigger, 6 × 9 or 7 × 8?
  7. A packet has 6 laddoos. How many laddoos are in 8 packets?
  8. Fill in the blank: 5, 10, ___, 20, 25.
  9. Use 5 × 8 = 40 to find 6 × 8.
  10. An auto-rickshaw carries 3 passengers. How many passengers can 9 autos carry?

Answer key

Answers: Multiplication tables made easy

Do the practice sheet first, then check here. If an answer is different from yours, read the lesson again and try once more.

  1. 15
  2. 42
  3. 32
  4. 54
  5. 56
  6. 7 × 8, because 56 is bigger than 54.
  7. 48 laddoos (6 × 8).
  8. 15
  9. 48 (40 + 8).
  10. 27 passengers (3 × 9).

What next

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