SfC Home > Arithmetic >
Explanation of Using the Multiplication Table - Succeed in Arithmetic. Also refer to single digit, whole numbers, times, memorize, counting, mathematics, math, maths, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Using the Multiplication Table
by Ron Kurtus (4 August 2008)
A Multiplication Table is a tool to help in learning the multiplication of two single digit whole numbers. A whole number is a counting number (1, 2, 3...) along with 0. Single-digit means that the number only has one digit. For example, 7 is a single-digit number, while 27 has two digits.
It is worthwhile to memorize the multiplication of any two single-digit whole numbers between 0 and 9.
Questions you may have include:
- What is the product of any two single-digit numbers?
- What are some examples?
- How does counting by a number help?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.
Multiplying two numbers
A single-digit number consists of only one digit. These are the whole numbers between 0 and 9. For example, 3 is a single digit number, while 23 is not because it consists of two digits (2 and 3).
It is important to memorize the product of every two single digit numbers, because that knowledge is used in so many arithmetic calculations. The following table can be used to aid in learning those products.
| × | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 |
| 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 |
| 5 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 | 42 | 48 | 54 |
| 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 35 | 42 | 49 | 56 | 63 |
| 8 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 | 48 | 56 | 64 | 72 |
| 9 | 0 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 | 54 | 63 | 72 | 81 |
Pick a number along the top row and multiply it times to a number from the first column.
Example of using the table
For example, use the table to multiply 6 times 4.
Pick 6 from the top row and go down to 4 in the first column. The product of the two numbers, 6 × 4, equals 24. You should memorize that.
| × | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 |
| 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 |
| 5 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 | 42 | 48 | 54 |
| 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 35 | 42 | 49 | 56 | 63 |
| 8 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 | 48 | 56 | 64 | 72 |
| 9 | 0 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 | 54 | 63 | 72 | 81 |
Notes
Note that multiplication does not depend on the order of the numbers. In other words 6 × 4 = 4 × 6 = 24. Check to verify that.
Also note that 0 times any number is 0.
3 × 9
Now use the table to multiply 3 × 9 and 9 × 3. Your answer should be 27. You should memorize those products.
Counting exercises
A way to help you learn the multiplication of single digit numbers is by counting by a number. Some examples are below.
By 2
Count by 2 (skipping 0): 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18... That is easy, but you can also note that this series corresponds to the numbers in the 2 row and column.
By 9
Now try counting by 9 (skipping 0): 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81...
This will help you multiplying by 9.
Some interesting things about multiples of 9 can be seen from this series.
First of all, the sum of the digits equals 9. For example, for 72: 7 + 2 = 9. This is even true for larger numbers in this series. 13 × 9 = 117 and 1 + 1 + 7 = 9.
Also in the series above, the first digits go down by 1 and the second digits go up by 1.
Summary
You can use a multiplication table to multiply single digit numbers together. This is a handy way to learn your multiplication. Note that the order of the numbers in multiplication does not matter. 2 × 3 = 3 × 2. Finally, practicing counting by a number is a good way to get a feeling of the products.
Use tools to learn
Resources
The following resources provide information on this subject:
Websites
Books
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Arithmetic. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
What do you think?
Do you have any questions, comments, or opinions on this subject? If so, send an email with your feedback. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Share link
Feel free to establish a link from your website to pages in this site.
Or use our form to send this link to yourself or a friend.
Students and researchers
The Web address of this page is
www.school-for-champions.com/arithmetic/multiplication_table.htm. Please include it as a reference in your report,
document, or thesis.
Where can you go from here?
Using the Multiplication Table