Learn Multiplication Tables - Quick and Easy

Many people struggle with math. Multiplication tables are incredibly useful for later stages of mathematics instruction, and easy to learn with the right plan. Multiplication tables are also the skill that a lot of students stumble on. When we stumble in math we irrationally question our ability to learn math.

When I was taught the multiplication tables I was given a set of flashcards for each number. I learned 2s and 3s and just kept going until they were done. Some students learn well with this approach, but many students find it easier to learn when presented more systematically. Follow this step-by-step guide and you too can master your tricks of multiplication tables.

Easy Multiplication Step 1: 1s

The 1s the easiest on the multiplication table to learn. Multiplication can be thought of as how many times you add a number. 5x1 would be "5 added 1 time" which makes sense why it would just be 5. Any number multiplied by 1 is just that number back again.

Easy Multiplication Step 2: 10s

The 10s are almost as easy as the 1s to learn. To multiply by 10 you tack on a zero onto the end. 3x10=30 for example. We kept the three and tacked a zero on to the end. Students get the hang of this easily so we teach it sooner to help them gain confidence in their multiplication tables. The part that trips some students up is when multiplying 10 by a number greater than 10. 11x10 for example, works exactly the same. 11x10=110.

Easy Multiplication Step 3: 2s

The 2s can easily be taught two different ways. First, students should know or learn to skip count by 2s. It is useful in higher math to know what numbers are odd and even so if the student doesn't already know how to skip count by 2s, they should learn. One can then easily count up the times skipped. So to figure out 4x2, the student would skip count "2, 4, 6, 8" until they say four numbers. This is then the answer. Second, if we think back to the meaning of multiplication, we remember that we can think about adding. 4x2, means that the number 4 is added 2 times, or 4+4, which students have mastered by this point. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling which is fairly easy to conceptualize in your mind than later multiplication tables.

Easy Multiplication Step 4: 5s

The 5s can also easily be taught two different ways. Students need to learn to skip count by 5s. 5s are used for nickels and minutes most regularly. Another way to conceptualize the 5s is to think of the 10s and then cut it in half. So 4x5=20 because 4x10=40 and 20 is 1/2 of 40. This also works universally.

Easy Multiplication Step 5: 3s

The 3s are a little trickier. No one wants to learn to skip count by 3s. Once I broke down and did it I appreciated the result. If learning the skip counting is not your thing then you can always do the repeated addition route. Many students master a hybrid approach. They will skip count part way "3, 6, 9, 12, 15," and then they will forget and count up using repeated addition and emphasizing every 3rd number "16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, ..." One major downside to this approach is that students will go too fast and make careless addition errors. An easy trick to making sure you have the right number is to add the digits and make sure that the number is also in the 3s. This also works for bigger numbers as well.

For example 193242 is a number multiplied by 3. I know this because 1+9+3+2+4+2=21 and 21 is a number multiplied by 3 because 2+1=3. With practice you can even use this check to remember your facts in the first place making the 3s easier to use.

Easy Multiplication Step 6: 9s

To multiply by 9, the easiest method is the hand method. I recommend you follow the link as it shows pictures that are easy to follow. Essentially, you put your hands in front of you and give each finger a number in order with the left-most finger being 1 and the rightmost finger being 10. By putting down the finger associated with the 9s multiplication problem you can count your fingers to figure out the answer. The number of fingers on the left of your down finger is the ten's place and the number of fingers on the right of your down finger is the number in the one's place.

Easy Multiplication Step 7: Perfect Squares

Now is the part where most students get stressed. We now have to learn our 4s, 6s, 7s, and 8s, and there are few tricks to help us. Luckily for us we've already learned most of the facts in these sections. In fact there are only 10 facts to memorize now. We are going to learn the first 4 new facts now.

Perfect squares are important because when you learn squares, square roots, and factoring, it is helpful just to know them easily. So we group them together and spend a couple days just worrying about these 4. Make flashcards for 4x4=16, 6x6=36, 7x7=49, and 8x8=64. Given that there are only 4 cards in the set, it should only take a couple of days to memorize.

Easy Multiplication Step 8: 7x8

7x8 is my favorite multiplication fact. 7x8=56. I like to turn it around and say 56=7x8. If you look at that fact and take out the symbols when you read them it sounds like we are going to start jamming out to some music. "A 5, 6, 7, 8..."

Easy Multiplication Step 9: 4x6, 4x7, 4x8

Once the student has mastered the 4 facts from step 7, exchange their flashcards. This time they only have 3. That should make it easier right? 4x6=24, 4x7=28, 4x8=32. With these 3 facts the student will have learned all their 4s.

Easy Multiplication Step 10: 4s

While the student learned their 4s easily in step 9, the student doesn't know this. It is difficult to remember that there were only these 3-4 hard facts, the rest were already learned in previous steps. Putting it all together in this step helps the student really see that they easily learned all their 4s by breaking it into smaller pieces. The rush of success at this stage will help them to push through to the end.

Easy Multiplication Step 11: 6x7, 6x8

Okay, you've mastered your 4s. You've taken on 4 facts for a couple days, then only 3 facts. How much easier should it be to take on only 2 facts for a couple of days. 6x7=42, 6x8=48. Again review them several times a day. There are only 2 of them, so you could even just write one on each hand and put the answer on your palm. Whenever you see your hands during the day try to remember which fact is on the other side. You now know your 6s, 7s, and 8s.

Easy Multiplication Step 12: 6s, 7s, and 8s

You now know all your multiplication tables through your 10s. Like with the 4s, you may not be so sure. Pull out some flashcards and test those hard ones. You know the 6s, 7s, and 8s because you either memorized the fact or you have a trick to help you.