Times tables strategies

Start from what you know

The times tables are not 144 separate facts to swallow one by one. They are connected. Facts you already know can grow into facts you do not know yet, using three simple moves: double, add a group, or take a group away.

The 2s, 5s and 10s make a good home base. You can skip count in 2s without thinking, the 5s end in 0 or 5, and multiplying by 10 adds a zero. Every other table can be reached from those anchor facts.

Double to reach the 4s and 8s

Doubling is the most powerful move. If you know 2 × 8 = 16, then 4 × 8 = 32, because four groups of 8 is just two groups of 8 doubled. Double it once more and you have 8 × 8 = 64. The 4 times table is the 2 times table doubled, and the 8 times table is the 4 times table doubled.

Add or take away one group

Each fact in a table is one group more than the fact before it. If you know 5 × 7 = 35, then 6 × 7 is one more group of 7: 35 + 7 = 42. Going the other way works too. If you know 10 × 6 = 60, then 9 × 6 is one group of 6 less: 60 - 6 = 54. The nines are a favourite use of this move, because the 10s are so easy.

You can also jump two steps at a time. From 4 × 6 = 24, adding two groups of 6 gives 6 × 6 = 36. Choose the neighbour that gets you to the answer with the fewest steps.

Halve to reach the 5s

The 5 times table sits halfway between easy neighbours. Half of 10 × 8 is 5 × 8, so 5 × 8 = 40. Halving works because 5 is half of 10. If the number you are multiplying by 5 is even, you can also halve that number first: 5 × 8 is the same as 10 × 4, and halving first often makes the numbers friendlier.