Learn Your Multiplication Tables

The 12 Times Table

We have printable version of this table in black and white, color,
or small (exercise book) size. We also have a blank version for you to fill in.

Print one and put it on your wall, or paste it in an exercise book.

How to Learn

Your life will be a lot easier when you can simply remember the multiplication tables.

So ... train your memory!

First, use the table above to start putting the answers into your memory.

Then use the Math Trainer - Multiplication to train your memory, it is specially designed to help you memorize the tables.

Use it a few times a day for about 5 minutes each, and you will learn your tables.

Try it now, and then come back and read some more ...

So, the two main ways for you to learn the multiplication table are:

Reading over the table
Exercising using the Math Trainer

But here are some special "tips" to help you even more:

Tip 1: Order Does Not Matter

When you multiply two numbers, it does not matter which is
first or second, the answer is always the same.

Example: 3×5=15, and 5×3=15

Another Example: 2×9=18, and 9×2=18

In fact, it is like half of the table is a mirror image of the other!

So, don't memorise both "3×5" and "5×3", just memorise that "a 3 and a 5 make 15" when multiplied.

This is very important! It nearly cuts the whole job in half.

In your mind you should think of
3 and 5 "together" making 15.

so you should be thinking something like this:

Tip 2: Learn the Tables in "Chunks"

It is too hard to put the whole table into your memory at once. So, learn it in "chunks" ...

	A		Start by learning the 5 times table.
	B		Then learn up to 9 times 5.
	C		Is the same as B, except the questions are the other way around. Learn it too.
	D		Lastly learn the "6×6 to 9×9" chunk

	Then bring it all together by practicing the whole "10 Times Table"

And you will know your 10 Times Table!

(We look at the 12x table below)

Some Patterns

There are some patterns which can help you remember:

2× is just doubling the number. The same as adding the number to itself.

2×2=4, 2×3=6, 2×4=8, etc.

So the pattern is 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20

(And once you remember those, you also know 3×2, 4×2, 5×2, etc., right?)

5× has a pattern: 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. It always end in either a 0 or a 5.

10× is maybe the easiest of them all ... just put a zero after it

10×2=20, 10×3=30, 10×4=40, etc.

9× has a pattern, too: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90

Now, notice how the "units" place goes down: 9,8,7,6, ...? And at the same time, the "tens" place goes up: 1,2,3,...?

You can use this pattern to prompt your memory this way: the tens place will be 1 less than what you are multiplying by!

Example: 9×7 ... go 1 less than 7, so the tens place is 6, and then remember 63

What About the 12 Times Table?

Sounds tough, but once you have mastered the 10× table, it is just a few steps away.

	Firstly, 11× is mostly easy: from 11×2 to 11×9 you just put the two digits together. 11×2=22, 11×3=33, ..., 11×9=99.

	And of course 2×, 5× and 10× just follow their simple rules you know already, so it just leaves these to remember: 3×12=36, 4×12=48, 6×12=72, 7×12=84, 8×12=96, 9×12=108

	And the "Big 3": 11×11=121, 11×12=132 and 12×12=144

More Help

I also have a longer list of multiplication tips and tricks if you are interested.

You can test yourself using the times tables test.

You can try out Speed Math.

Learn Long Multiplication.

And if you are really good, see if you can beat the high scores at Reaction Math.