Multiplication and the times tables — Primary Maths

In this lesson you will learn

Explain multiplication as adding the same number again and again
Use the words factor and product and swap the factors
Learn the times tables with the help of tricks

There are 4 plates on the table with 3 apples on each. How many apples are there? You can add: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. But what if there were 10 plates? Mathematicians invented a shortcut for this: multiplication.

Multiplication is quick addition

When we add the same number several times, we can multiply instead: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 3 × 4 = 12. The numbers we multiply are called factors, and the answer is the product.

Apples on plates

There are 4 plates with 3 apples on each. How many apples are there in all?

Show solution

With addition: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12.
With multiplication it is shorter: 3 × 4 = 12 apples.

Swapping the factors does not change the product: 3 × 4 = 4 × 3 = 12. So if you know 3 × 8, you also know 8 × 3! That makes the table you have to learn almost half as long.

×	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100

The times table: the product is where a row meets a column. For example, row 7 and column 8: 7 × 8 = 56.

Times-table tricks

× 1: the number stays the same: 8 × 1 = 8.
× 0: the answer is always 0: 8 × 0 = 0.
× 2: double the number: 2 × 7 = 7 + 7 = 14.
× 4: double it twice: 4 × 6 → 12 → 24.

Boxes of chocolates

A box holds 9 chocolates. How many chocolates are there in 7 boxes?

Show solution

9 × 7 = ?
Finger trick: fold down the 7th finger; 6 fingers are on the left and 3 on the right → 63.
Check another way: 10 × 7 = 70, and 70 − 7 = 63.
There are 63 chocolates in 7 boxes.

Puppet theatre tickets

A ticket to the puppet theatre costs 5 manat. How much do 8 tickets for 8 friends cost?

Show solution

5 × 8 = ?
8 × 10 = 80, and half of 80 is 40.
8 tickets cost 40 manat.

Let's practise

The trickiest facts are usually in the 6, 7 and 8 tables. Practise them with the cards. A little secret: 5, 6, 7, 8 → 56 = 7 × 8!

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Interactive

Loading simulation…

One minute a day, and the table will stay in your memory.

Times tables

1.3 × 4 =
2.5 × 7 =
3.9 × 6 =
4.10 × 8 =
5.11 × 4 =
6.7 × 8 =
7.6 × 6 =
8.4 × = 28
9.8 × 0 =
10.11 × 32 =

Key points

Multiplication is adding the same number again and again: 3 × 4 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12.
The numbers we multiply are factors and the answer is the product; swapping the factors does not change the product.
×10: write a 0 at the end; ×5: multiply by 10 and halve.
×9: use the finger trick; the digits of the answer add up to 9.
×11 (for 1–9): write the digit twice; ×0 gives 0 and ×1 changes nothing.

Check yourself

10 questions. Every correct answer earns XP.

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Which multiplication is equal to 6 + 6 + 6?

×	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100

×	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100

×	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100