Knowing the multiplication tables is essential if you are to become confident with maths.  The best way to achieve confidence and familiarity with the tables is simply to memorise them.  This may take some time but it is well worth the effort in the long run.

However, you may find the multiplication method described below a useful (and interesting) way to work out multiplication facts for numbers 6-10.  (You will still need to learn your multiplication tables for numbers up to 5 - but that should not be too difficult.)

Imagine that the FINGERS of each

hand are NUMBERED from 6 to 10

STARTING FROM YOUR THUMBS

Select the two fingers that you wish to multiply.

Using the diagram on the right.

• Place the two relevant fingers on the pads (and spread your fingers).

• COUNT the number of fingers BELOW the line.  Place this number of TENS in your answer.

• Now MULTIPLY the two sets of fingers ABOVE the line.  (Number of left-hand fingers X number of right-hand fingers.)  Place this number of UNITS in your answer (notice: it may be more than ten.)

Here's a rhyme to help you remember.

To multiply two numbers more than five,

Here's a simple way to keep your hopes alive:

Put the numbers on your fingers (6 on thumbs!);

Put your fingers on the pads and start the sums.

How many fingers can you count below?

That's the number of the TENS, you know.

Multiply the sets above the line -

Add this many UNITS, you'll be fine.

To MULTIPLY 7 X 8

• Place the left-hand 7 finger on the left pad.

• Place the right-hand 8 finger on the right pad.

• There are FIVE fingers BELOW the line - place 50 in the answer.

• Above the line - multiply THREE (left-hand fingers) X TWO (right-hand fingers) - place 6 in the answer.

• The two parts of the answer are 50 and 6.

• So ... 7 X 8 = 56

To MULTIPLY 8 X 6

• Place the left-hand 8 finger on the left pad.

• Place the right-hand 6 thumb on the right pad.

• There are FOUR fingers BELOW the line - place 40 in the answer.

• Above the line - multiply TWO (left-hand fingers) X FOUR (right-hand fingers) - place 8 in the answer.

• The two parts of the answer are 40 and 8.

• So ... 8 X 6 = 48

For slightly more advanced mathematicians who need to know how it works.

Let the number represented by the left hand be L

Let the number represented by the right hand be R

Let the number of fingers ABOVE the line be L_a

Let the number of fingers ABOVE the line be R_a

Let the number of fingers BELOW the line be L_b

Let the number of fingers BELOW the line be R_b

L_a = (10 - L)

R_a = (10 - R)

L_b = (L - 5)

R_b = (R - 5)

Count the "BELOW numbers" and multiply by TEN: Multiply the "ABOVE numbers" and add them to the total

10 ( L_b + R_b ) + (  L_a X R_a  )

10 ( L - 5 + R - 5 ) + { ( 10 - L ) X ( 10 - R ) }

10 ( L + R - 10 ) + { 100 - 10L - 10R + LR}

10L + 10 R - 100 + 100 - 10L - 10R + LR

L x R

Return to the Multiplication Tables page