Mastering Your Times Tables

What is multiplication?

Multiplication is a fast way to add equal groups. The symbol is × (times).

4 × 3 means four groups of 3:

3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12

So instead of adding 3 four times, you just say "four times three is twelve." Much quicker!

If you have already practised in Addition and Subtraction Made Easy, you have a head start, because multiplication is built on adding.

Order does not matter

A great fact: you can swap the numbers and get the same answer.

3 × 4 = 4 × 3 = 12

This is called the commutative property. It means you only have to learn about half the facts!

Skip counting

The easiest way to learn a table is skip counting — counting in jumps.

• 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
• 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50
• 10s: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100

Each number you say is the next answer in the table. The 4th number you reach is the answer to "× 4".

Easy patterns to remember

The 10s are simplest: just put a 0 after the number. 7 × 10 = 70.

The 5s always end in 0 or 5. They are exactly half of the 10s. Since 6 × 10 = 60, then 6 × 5 = 30.

The 9s trick: to find 9 × n, the tens digit is one less than n, and the two digits always add up to 9.

Fact	Tens digit (n − 1)	Digits add to 9	Answer
9 × 3	2	2 + 7	27
9 × 6	5	5 + 4	54
9 × 8	7	7 + 2	72

Zero and one

• Anything × 1 stays the same: 6 × 1 = 6.
• Anything × 0 is 0: 6 × 0 = 0, because you have zero groups.

A worked example

Let's find 7 × 4.

1. Think "seven groups of 4."
2. Skip count in 4s seven times: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28.
3. Check by swapping: 4 × 7 should also be 28. Skip count in 7s four times: 7, 14, 21, 28.

It matches, so 7 × 4 = 28.

Practice tips

• Say one table out loud every day until it feels automatic.
• Use flashcards and mix up the order.
• Spot multiplication in real life: 6 eggs in a box, 3 boxes = 6 × 3 = 18 eggs.

Keep practising a little each day, and soon the answers will pop into your head instantly!