The multiplication grid
This grid brings together all the tables from 1 to 10. To read 7 × 8, cross row 7 with column 8 → 56. The diagonal (in orange) shows the square numbers (2×2, 3×3…).
| × | 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 secretMultiplication is commutative: 7 × 8 = 8 × 7. The grid is therefore symmetrical about the diagonal. As a result, there are only about thirty results that really need memorising, not a hundred.
The tricks that work
- × 1: the number doesn't change (6 × 1 = 6).
- × 10: add a 0 (6 × 10 = 60).
- × 2: it's the double (7 × 2 = 14).
- × 4: it's the double of the double (7 × 4: 7→14→28).
- × 5: the result always ends in 0 or 5, and it's half of "× 10" (6 × 5 = 30, half of 60).
- × 9: the tens digit goes up by 1, the units digit goes down by 1 (09, 18, 27, 36, 45…), and the two digits always add up to 9.
- × 11 (up to 9): write the digit twice (3 × 11 = 33, 7 × 11 = 77).
How to learn them well
- One table at a time, in order of difficulty: 2, 5, 10, then 3, 4, and finally 6, 7, 8, 9.
- A little every day (5 minutes) beats one hour in one go: spaced repetition anchors memory.
- Both ways: "6 times 7" but also "what makes 42?".
- By using them: every time you set out a multiplication or a division, you revise your tables without realising it.
Exercises
6 × 7
42
8 × 9
72 (×9 trick: tens 7, units 2, 7+2 = 9 ✓)
What makes 56? (which factors)
7 × 8 (or 8 × 7).
The best way to remember: practise
On EasyMaths, your child revises their tables with quick, varied exercises marked in a second. The first exercises are free.
Revise my tables →Frequently asked questions
How can you learn the tables quickly?
A little every day, one table at a time, leaning on the tricks (commutativity, ×2 = double, ×5 ends in 0 or 5, ×9 pattern).
Which tables do you need to know?
The tables from 1 to 10. Thanks to commutativity, there are only about thirty results that really need memorising.
At what age do children learn the tables?
The 2, 5 and 10 tables around age 7, then up to 10 around ages 8 to 10.