Dad's Eight Simple Rules for Mastering the Times Tables
If you have memorized your addition facts, you can master the entire multiplication table in minutes by learning the eight simple rules below. You only need to memorize the ten facts in Rule #8! Follow the link at the bottom for the full strategy!
Rule #1: |
First Number Times Second Number is the Same as Second Number Times First Number |
Rule #2: |
Any Number Times One is that Number. |
Rule #3: |
To Multiply by Ten, Attach a Zero. |
Rule #4: |
To Multiply by Two, Double the Number |
Rule #5: |
Multiplying by Four is Doubling Twice (Double-Double Rule) |
Rule #6: |
Multiplying by Five is Just Counting by Five |
Rule #7: |
The Nine Rule – Tens is Number Minus One, Ones is Nine Minus Tens |
Rule #8: |
Memorize the Ten Remaining Facts |
| 3 x 3 = 9 | Three times three is so fine, three times three is nine. |
| 3 x 6 = 18 | Three times my bird ate six beans, three times six is eighteen. |
| 3 x 7 = 21 | Three candies each for seven days, that would be fun, three times seven is twenty-one. |
| 3 x 8 = 24 | Three boys on skates fell on the floor, three times eight is twenty-four. |
| 6 x 6 = 36 | Six dogs with six sticks, six times six is thirty-six. |
| 6 x 7 = 42 | Sticks from heaven, stuck in glue, six times seven is forty-two! |
| 6 x 8 = 48 | What do we appreciate? Six times eight is forty-eight!
Flight Six Times Eight! Don’t be late! Leaving at gate forty-eight! |
| 7 x 7 = 49 | Seven kids in seven lines, add ‘em, up its forty-nine. |
| 7 x 8 = 56 | Five – six – seven – eight, Fifty-six is seven times eight. Seven packs of gum, each with eight sticks. Can you chew fifty-six? |
| 8 x 8 = 64 | Eight times eight is sixty-four, close your mouth and shut the door! Had two eights, dropped them on the floor, picked them up, had sixty-four. |
Eight Simple Rules for Mastering Multiplication: The Full Strategy!
Thanks! Your worksheets are extremely helpful!
Comment by Stephanie — July 14, 2011 @ 8:24 am
Thank you so much for your website. I am in a math intervention class in middle school and your worksheets have been a life saver for me. Thanks for making them free and so useful. I look weekly to see what has been added. Thanks again for making my life so much easier.
Comment by Judy — August 22, 2011 @ 7:07 am
Awesome! I love this website. It has been so helpful for my son who needs all the practice he can get. And your strategies are so easy for any age to use and remember.
Comment by Precise — September 25, 2011 @ 9:10 am
Glad to help, Precise!
Comment by admin — September 25, 2011 @ 8:09 pm
I LOVE the times tables rhymes!! Now we just need one of those clever blog people to create pictures to go with them. A great site. Thank you
Comment by Vivian — January 2, 2012 @ 12:37 pm
I eight and I eight and then I got six on the four
I ate and I ate and then I got sick on the floor
8 x 8 is 64
(just to add my favorite to yours…thanks and good job)
Comment by Mary — June 26, 2012 @ 12:48 pm
Wow!! Just what I needed. Multiplication for my students has been made easy!! They are loving it because they automatically get it!! THANK YOU!
Comment by Connie Elmore — November 3, 2012 @ 5:17 am