How to Learn Multiplication Facts



Speed with multiplication facts makes all forms of math faster and easier. Here is a way to learn the times tables quickly and permanently.

Steps   [edit]

  1. Learn the facts that have rules:

    • 0 times any number is 0 (0x8=0);
    • 1 times any number is that number (1x8=8);
    • 10 times any number is that number followed by a 0 (10x8=80)
  2. Learn the 2s. Practice by counting by 2s to 20. Then practice: 2 x 6 = 6 + 6 = 12. 2 x 8 = 8 + 8 = 16.
  3. Learn the 5s. Learn to count by 5s to 50. Write the equations out in a list. Look for the patterns. See if you can find a trick to remember them.
  4. Find a multiplication table online. Print it. Mark out the facts that you know. If you know your 1s, 2s, 5s,and 10s, you will find that you only have to learn 21 more facts. Remember that 7 x 6 is the same as 6 x 7.
  5. Select one multiplication table to learn at a time. This means learning by multiples of 2, 3 etc. Start with simple tables such as 2s, 10s, 5s, and 11s. By the time you learn the more difficult tables such as the 7s and 8s, you will already know several facts.
  6. Relate this family to a real life situation. For example, 8 weeks = 56 days.
  7. Ask everyone around you to quiz you on your fact family. This will help keep it in your head. They can ask any of the 4 questions.
  8. Repeat with a different fact family when you have mastered this one. There are only 36 fact families to learn if you know the rules for 0, 1, and 10.
  9. Play math games. After mastering all of the fact families, play math games to build up speed. Use Google to search for "learn math facts" to find fun activities and hints.


Tips   [edit]

  • Play games like Yahtzee and Cribbage to get faster at adding and multiplying.
  • Try to find tricks to remembering each fact or group of facts.
  • Working with a friend is always more fun and more successful. You can study the same fact family or quiz each other on different families.
  • Reward yourself for success, but never punish yourself for forgetting. Just get the answer and repeat the fact to yourself.
  • Try writing the four facts on slips of paper and put in different pockets or your socks. Try to remember which fact is in which location.


Warnings   [edit]

  • Never try to learn more than one fact family per day. You will just get them mixed up.