The 4 and 8 Times Tables

A clever pair of tables

The 4 times table and the 8 times table are best friends, because both are built from doubling. If you are confident with Doubling and Halving, these two tables become much easier than learning them by heart.

Here is the big idea:

• 4 is double 2. So the 4 times table is double the 2 times table.
• 8 is double 4. So the 8 times table is double the 4 times table.

That means you can build both tables from doubling, instead of memorising twenty separate facts.

Multiplying by 4: double, double

To multiply any number by 4, double it, then double again. This works because 4 = 2 × 2.

Example — 4 × 7:

1. Double 7 → 14
2. Double 14 → 28

So 4 × 7 = 28. Two quick doubles and you are done.

Multiplying by 8: double, double, double

To multiply by 8, double three times, because 8 = 2 × 2 × 2.

Example — 8 × 6:

1. Double 6 → 12
2. Double 12 → 24
3. Double 24 → 48

So 8 × 6 = 48.

There is an even faster way: since the 8s are double the 4s, just work out the 4 times answer and double it once. 4 × 6 = 24, and double 24 = 48. Same result, less work.

The two tables side by side

Notice how every 8s answer is exactly double the matching 4s answer.

×	4 times table	8 times table
1	4	8
2	8	16
3	12	24
4	16	32
5	20	40
6	24	48
7	28	56
8	32	64
9	36	72
10	40	80
11	44	88
12	48	96

Patterns to spot

• All answers are even. Multiplying by 4 or 8 always lands on an even number.
• The 4s end in a repeating pattern: 4, 8, 2, 6, 0, then 4, 8, 2, 6, 0 again (look at the last digit).
• The 8s end in: 8, 6, 4, 2, 0, and repeat.
• Each step jumps by the table number: the 4s go up in 4s, the 8s go up in 8s.

Worked example

A spider has 8 legs. How many legs do 7 spiders have?

1. This is 8 × 7.
2. Find 4 × 7 first: double 7 = 14, double = 28.
3. Double 28 to get the 8s answer: 28 × 2 = 56.
4. So 7 spiders have 56 legs.

Try it yourself

• Write the 4 times table by starting at 4 and adding 4 each time. Then double every answer to get the 8 times table.
• Cover the table above. Can you say 4 × 8 and 8 × 8 without looking?
• Real-life check: a car has 4 wheels. How many wheels on 9 cars? An octopus has 8 arms — how many arms on 5 octopuses?

Where this leads

Doubling your way through the 4s and 8s builds the same skill you need for the 3, 6 and 9 Times Tables and for fast Times Tables recall. Keep doubling, and these facts will soon be instant.