Year 4: The 2, 4, 8, 5 and 10 times tables
Part of the Year 4 times tables chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
The 2, 4, 8, 5 and 10 times tables
You already know many of these tables from Year 3. Now we go all the way up to 12 × 12, and we use tricks so that you can work out any fact quickly. The first set of tricks uses doubling, halving and tens.
The 2 times table: double. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. 2 × 7 means 7 + 7 = 14. Every answer in the 2 times table is an even number.
The 10 times table: move the digits. Multiplying by 10 makes every digit ten times bigger, so every digit moves one place to the left and a 0 goes in the ones place. 10 × 7 = 70. 10 × 12 = 120 (12 tens). Every answer in the 10 times table ends in 0.
The 5 times table: half of the 10 times table. 5 is half of 10, so 5 × 8 is half of 10 × 8. 10 × 8 = 80 and half of 80 is 40. So 5 × 8 = 40. Every answer in the 5 times table ends in 0 or 5.
The 4 times table: double double. 4 × 7: double 7 is 14, and double 14 is 28. So 4 × 7 = 28. The 8 times table: double double double. 8 × 7: double 7 is 14, double 14 is 28, double 28 is 56. So 8 × 7 = 56. The answers in the 4 and 8 times tables are always even.
Key words. To double a number is to multiply it by 2. To halve a number is to share it into 2 equal parts. A multiple of a number is an answer in its times table, such as 8, 16, 24 for 8.
Key ideas
- × 2: double the number.
- × 10: move every digit one place to the left (10 × 12 = 120).
- × 5: find × 10 first, then halve it.
- × 4: double, then double again.
- × 8: double three times.
- Use commutativity: 12 × 5 = 5 × 12, so use the table you know best.
Method. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. Double the number.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 12 × 2 = 2 × 12. Use the 2 times table trick.12 × 2 = 2 × 12
- Double the number. Doubling means adding the number to itself.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Write the answer. 12 × 2 = 24
Check. Check by dividing: 24 ÷ 2 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Doubling is not adding 2. To double 7, add 7 + 7, not 7 + 2.
Method. To multiply by 10, every digit moves one place to the left. The ones become tens.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 11 × 10 = 10 × 11. Use the 10 times table trick.11 × 10 = 10 × 11
- Think about tens. 10 × 11 means 11 lots of 10, which is 11 tens.11 tens
- Move the digits one place to the left. A tens column needs a 0 in the ones place.11 → 110
- Write the answer. 11 × 10 = 110
Check. Check by dividing: 110 ÷ 10 = 11. ✓
Watch out. The 10 times table has a 0 in the ones place every time. Put the 0 on the end, but think “tens” so you understand why.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 9 × 5 = 5 × 9. Use the 5 times table trick.9 × 5 = 5 × 9
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 9 = 90
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 80 = 40, half of 10 = 5, so 40 + 5 = 45
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.9 × 5 = 45
Check. The digits of 45 add up to 9: 4 + 5 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 7 × 4 = 4 × 7. Use the 4 times table trick.7 × 4 = 4 × 7
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.7 + 7 = 14
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 4 = 8, so 20 + 8 = 28
- Write the answer. 7 × 4 = 28
Check. Check by dividing: 28 ÷ 4 = 7. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 12 × 4 = 4 × 12. Use the 4 times table trick.12 × 4 = 4 × 12
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 20 = 40, double 4 = 8, so 40 + 8 = 48
- Write the answer. 12 × 4 = 48
Check. Check by dividing: 48 ÷ 4 = 12. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Eight is double double double. Double the number three times.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 6 × 8 = 8 × 6. Use the 8 times table trick.6 × 8 = 8 × 6
- Double once. This gives 2 lots.6 + 6 = 12
- Double again. This gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Double a third time. This gives 8 lots.double 20 = 40, double 4 = 8, so 40 + 8 = 48
- Write the answer. 6 × 8 = 48
Check. Check by dividing: 48 ÷ 6 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Count your doubles. Three doubles give 8 lots. Two doubles only give 4.
Method. Twelve is ten and two. Multiply by 10, multiply by 2, then add.
- Multiply by 10. Move the digits one place to the left.10 × 8 = 80
- Multiply by 2. Double the number.8 + 8 = 16
- Add the two answers together. 12 = 10 + 2.80 + 16 = 96
- Write the answer. 12 × 8 = 96
Check. Check by dividing: 96 ÷ 8 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Do both parts, 10 lots and 2 lots, then add. Do not stop after 10 lots.
Watch out
Doubling is not adding 2. To double 7 you add 7 + 7 = 14. Also, for the 5 times table, find 10 × the number first, then halve it. And for the 4 and 8 times tables, count your doubles: two doubles for 4, three doubles for 8.Exercise 3B The 2, 4, 5, 8 and 10 times tables
Non-calculatorMethod. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. Double the number.
- Double the number. Doubling means adding the number to itself.6 + 6 = 12
- Write the answer. 2 × 6 = 12
Check. Check by dividing: 12 ÷ 2 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Doubling is not adding 2. To double 7, add 7 + 7, not 7 + 2.
Method. To multiply by 10, every digit moves one place to the left. The ones become tens.
- Think about tens. 10 × 7 means 7 lots of 10, which is 7 tens.7 tens
- Move the digits one place to the left. A tens column needs a 0 in the ones place.7 → 70
- Write the answer. 10 × 7 = 70
Check. Check by dividing: 70 ÷ 7 = 10. ✓
Watch out. The 10 times table has a 0 in the ones place every time. Put the 0 on the end, but think “tens” so you understand why.
Method. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. Double the number.
- Double the number. Doubling means adding the number to itself.double 10 = 20, double 1 = 2, so 20 + 2 = 22
- Write the answer. 2 × 11 = 22
Check. Check by dividing: 22 ÷ 2 = 11. ✓
Watch out. Doubling is not adding 2. To double 7, add 7 + 7, not 7 + 2.
Method. To multiply by 10, every digit moves one place to the left. The ones become tens.
- Think about tens. 10 × 12 means 12 lots of 10, which is 12 tens.12 tens
- Move the digits one place to the left. A tens column needs a 0 in the ones place.12 → 120
- Write the answer. 10 × 12 = 120
Check. Check by dividing: 120 ÷ 10 = 12. ✓
Watch out. The 10 times table has a 0 in the ones place every time. Put the 0 on the end, but think “tens” so you understand why.
Method. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. Double the number.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 9 × 2 = 2 × 9. Use the 2 times table trick.9 × 2 = 2 × 9
- Double the number. Doubling means adding the number to itself.9 + 9 = 18
- Write the answer. 9 × 2 = 18
Check. The digits of 18 add up to 9: 1 + 8 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Doubling is not adding 2. To double 7, add 7 + 7, not 7 + 2.
Method. To multiply by 10, every digit moves one place to the left. The ones become tens.
- Think about tens. 10 × 9 means 9 lots of 10, which is 9 tens.9 tens
- Move the digits one place to the left. A tens column needs a 0 in the ones place.9 → 90
- Write the answer. 10 × 9 = 90
Check. The digits of 90 add up to 9: 9 + 0 = 9. ✓
Watch out. The 10 times table has a 0 in the ones place every time. Put the 0 on the end, but think “tens” so you understand why.
Method. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. Double the number.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 12 × 2 = 2 × 12. Use the 2 times table trick.12 × 2 = 2 × 12
- Double the number. Doubling means adding the number to itself.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Write the answer. 12 × 2 = 24
Check. Check by dividing: 24 ÷ 2 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Doubling is not adding 2. To double 7, add 7 + 7, not 7 + 2.
Method. To multiply by 10, every digit moves one place to the left. The ones become tens.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 4 × 10 = 10 × 4. Use the 10 times table trick.4 × 10 = 10 × 4
- Think about tens. 10 × 4 means 4 lots of 10, which is 4 tens.4 tens
- Move the digits one place to the left. A tens column needs a 0 in the ones place.4 → 40
- Write the answer. 4 × 10 = 40
Check. Check by dividing: 40 ÷ 4 = 10. ✓
Watch out. The 10 times table has a 0 in the ones place every time. Put the 0 on the end, but think “tens” so you understand why.
Method. To multiply by 10, every digit moves one place to the left. The ones become tens.
- Think about tens. 10 × 11 means 11 lots of 10, which is 11 tens.11 tens
- Move the digits one place to the left. A tens column needs a 0 in the ones place.11 → 110
- Write the answer. 10 × 11 = 110
Check. Check by dividing: 110 ÷ 10 = 11. ✓
Watch out. The 10 times table has a 0 in the ones place every time. Put the 0 on the end, but think “tens” so you understand why.
Method. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. Double the number.
- Double the number. Doubling means adding the number to itself.8 + 8 = 16
- Write the answer. 2 × 8 = 16
Check. Check by dividing: 16 ÷ 2 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Doubling is not adding 2. To double 7, add 7 + 7, not 7 + 2.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 6 = 60
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 60 = 30
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.5 × 6 = 30
Check. Check by dividing: 30 ÷ 5 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 9 = 90
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 80 = 40, half of 10 = 5, so 40 + 5 = 45
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.5 × 9 = 45
Check. The digits of 45 add up to 9: 4 + 5 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 11 = 110
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 100 = 50, half of 10 = 5, so 50 + 5 = 55
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.5 × 11 = 55
Check. Check by dividing: 55 ÷ 5 = 11. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 7 × 5 = 5 × 7. Use the 5 times table trick.7 × 5 = 5 × 7
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 7 = 70
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 60 = 30, half of 10 = 5, so 30 + 5 = 35
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.7 × 5 = 35
Check. Check by dividing: 35 ÷ 5 = 7. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 12 = 120
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 120 = 60
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.5 × 12 = 60
Check. Check by dividing: 60 ÷ 5 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 8 × 5 = 5 × 8. Use the 5 times table trick.8 × 5 = 5 × 8
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 8 = 80
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 80 = 40
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.8 × 5 = 40
Check. Check by dividing: 40 ÷ 5 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 4 = 40
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 40 = 20
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.5 × 4 = 20
Check. Check by dividing: 20 ÷ 4 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 3 × 5 = 5 × 3. Use the 5 times table trick.3 × 5 = 5 × 3
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 3 = 30
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 20 = 10, half of 10 = 5, so 10 + 5 = 15
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.3 × 5 = 15
Check. Check by dividing: 15 ÷ 3 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. To multiply by 10, every digit moves one place to the left. The ones become tens.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 5 × 10 = 10 × 5. Use the 10 times table trick.5 × 10 = 10 × 5
- Think about tens. 10 × 5 means 5 lots of 10, which is 5 tens.5 tens
- Move the digits one place to the left. A tens column needs a 0 in the ones place.5 → 50
- Write the answer. 5 × 10 = 50
Check. Check by dividing: 50 ÷ 5 = 10. ✓
Watch out. The 10 times table has a 0 in the ones place every time. Put the 0 on the end, but think “tens” so you understand why.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 7 = 70
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 60 = 30, half of 10 = 5, so 30 + 5 = 35
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.5 × 7 = 35
Check. Check by dividing: 35 ÷ 5 = 7. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.6 + 6 = 12
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Write the answer. 4 × 6 = 24
Check. Check by dividing: 24 ÷ 4 = 6. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.9 + 9 = 18
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 8 = 16, so 20 + 16 = 36
- Write the answer. 4 × 9 = 36
Check. The digits of 36 add up to 9: 3 + 6 = 9. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 7 × 4 = 4 × 7. Use the 4 times table trick.7 × 4 = 4 × 7
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.7 + 7 = 14
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 4 = 8, so 20 + 8 = 28
- Write the answer. 7 × 4 = 28
Check. Check by dividing: 28 ÷ 4 = 7. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Eleven is ten and one more. Multiply by 10, then add one more group.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 4 × 11 = 11 × 4. Use the 11 times table trick.4 × 11 = 11 × 4
- Multiply by 10. 10 lots of the number first.10 × 4 = 40
- Add one more group. 11 = 10 + 1, so add the number itself once more. You can also write the digit twice: 44.40 + 4 = 44
- Write the answer. 4 × 11 = 44
Check. Check by dividing: 44 ÷ 4 = 11. ✓
Watch out. The “write the digit twice” trick only works from 11 × 1 to 11 × 9. For 11 × 12 it does not give 1212. Use 10 lots + 1 lot.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 20 = 40, double 4 = 8, so 40 + 8 = 48
- Write the answer. 4 × 12 = 48
Check. Check by dividing: 48 ÷ 4 = 12. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 8 × 4 = 4 × 8. Use the 4 times table trick.8 × 4 = 4 × 8
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.8 + 8 = 16
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 6 = 12, so 20 + 12 = 32
- Write the answer. 8 × 4 = 32
Check. Check by dividing: 32 ÷ 4 = 8. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.3 + 3 = 6
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.6 + 6 = 12
- Write the answer. 4 × 3 = 12
Check. Check by dividing: 12 ÷ 3 = 4. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 4 = 40
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 40 = 20
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.5 × 4 = 20
Check. Check by dividing: 20 ÷ 4 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Eight is double double double. Double the number three times.
- Double once. This gives 2 lots.6 + 6 = 12
- Double again. This gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Double a third time. This gives 8 lots.double 20 = 40, double 4 = 8, so 40 + 8 = 48
- Write the answer. 8 × 6 = 48
Check. Check by dividing: 48 ÷ 6 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Count your doubles. Three doubles give 8 lots. Two doubles only give 4.
Method. Nine is one less than ten. Multiply by 10, then take away one group.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 8 × 9 = 9 × 8. Use the 9 times table trick.8 × 9 = 9 × 8
- Multiply by 10. 10 lots of the number first.10 × 8 = 80
- Take away one group. 9 = 10 − 1, so take away the number itself once.80 − 8 = 72
- Write the answer. Answers in the 9 times table have digits that add up to 9 (or 18).8 × 9 = 72
Check. The digits of 72 add up to 9: 7 + 2 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Take away 8, the other number, not 9. For 9 × 8 you work out 10 × 8 − 8.
Method. Eight is double double double. Double the number three times.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 7 × 8 = 8 × 7. Use the 8 times table trick.7 × 8 = 8 × 7
- Double once. This gives 2 lots.7 + 7 = 14
- Double again. This gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 4 = 8, so 20 + 8 = 28
- Double a third time. This gives 8 lots.double 20 = 40, double 8 = 16, so 40 + 16 = 56
- Write the answer. 7 × 8 = 56
Check. Check by dividing: 56 ÷ 7 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Count your doubles. Three doubles give 8 lots. Two doubles only give 4.
Method. Eleven is ten and one more. Multiply by 10, then add one more group.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 8 × 11 = 11 × 8. Use the 11 times table trick.8 × 11 = 11 × 8
- Multiply by 10. 10 lots of the number first.10 × 8 = 80
- Add one more group. 11 = 10 + 1, so add the number itself once more. You can also write the digit twice: 88.80 + 8 = 88
- Write the answer. 8 × 11 = 88
Check. Check by dividing: 88 ÷ 8 = 11. ✓
Watch out. The “write the digit twice” trick only works from 11 × 1 to 11 × 9. For 11 × 12 it does not give 1212. Use 10 lots + 1 lot.
Method. Twelve is ten and two. Multiply by 10, multiply by 2, then add.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 8 × 12 = 12 × 8. Use the 12 times table trick.8 × 12 = 12 × 8
- Multiply by 10. Move the digits one place to the left.10 × 8 = 80
- Multiply by 2. Double the number.8 + 8 = 16
- Add the two answers together. 12 = 10 + 2.80 + 16 = 96
- Write the answer. 8 × 12 = 96
Check. Check by dividing: 96 ÷ 8 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Do both parts, 10 lots and 2 lots, then add. Do not stop after 10 lots.
Method. Eight is double double double. Double the number three times.
- Double once. This gives 2 lots.8 + 8 = 16
- Double again. This gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 6 = 12, so 20 + 12 = 32
- Double a third time. This gives 8 lots.double 30 = 60, double 2 = 4, so 60 + 4 = 64
- Write the answer. 8 × 8 = 64
Check. Check by dividing: 64 ÷ 8 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Count your doubles. Three doubles give 8 lots. Two doubles only give 4.
Method. Three is double and one more. Double the number, then add the number once.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 8 × 3 = 3 × 8. Use the 3 times table trick.8 × 3 = 3 × 8
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.8 + 8 = 16
- Add one more group. 3 = 2 + 1, so add the number once more.16 + 8 = 24
- Write the answer. 8 × 3 = 24
Check. Check by dividing: 24 ÷ 3 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Add the number itself, not 3, as the extra group.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.8 + 8 = 16
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 6 = 12, so 20 + 12 = 32
- Write the answer. 4 × 8 = 32
Check. Check by dividing: 32 ÷ 4 = 8. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Eight is double double double. Double the number three times.
- Double once. This gives 2 lots.7 + 7 = 14
- Double again. This gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 4 = 8, so 20 + 8 = 28
- Double a third time. This gives 8 lots.double 20 = 40, double 8 = 16, so 40 + 16 = 56
- Write the answer. 8 × 7 = 56
Check. Check by dividing: 56 ÷ 7 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Count your doubles. Three doubles give 8 lots. Two doubles only give 4.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 12 × 5 = 5 × 12. Use the 5 times table trick.12 × 5 = 5 × 12
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 12 = 120
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 120 = 60
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.12 × 5 = 60
Check. Check by dividing: 60 ÷ 5 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.8 + 8 = 16
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 6 = 12, so 20 + 12 = 32
- Write the answer. 4 × 8 = 32
Check. Check by dividing: 32 ÷ 4 = 8. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. To multiply by 10, every digit moves one place to the left. The ones become tens.
- Think about tens. 10 × 8 means 8 lots of 10, which is 8 tens.8 tens
- Move the digits one place to the left. A tens column needs a 0 in the ones place.8 → 80
- Write the answer. 10 × 8 = 80
Check. Check by dividing: 80 ÷ 8 = 10. ✓
Watch out. The 10 times table has a 0 in the ones place every time. Put the 0 on the end, but think “tens” so you understand why.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 6 × 4 = 4 × 6. Use the 4 times table trick.6 × 4 = 4 × 6
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.6 + 6 = 12
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Write the answer. 6 × 4 = 24
Check. Check by dividing: 24 ÷ 4 = 6. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Nine is one less than ten. Multiply by 10, then take away one group.
- Multiply by 10. 10 lots of the number first.10 × 8 = 80
- Take away one group. 9 = 10 − 1, so take away the number itself once.80 − 8 = 72
- Write the answer. Answers in the 9 times table have digits that add up to 9 (or 18).9 × 8 = 72
Check. The digits of 72 add up to 9: 7 + 2 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Take away 8, the other number, not 9. For 9 × 8 you work out 10 × 8 − 8.
Method. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. Double the number.
- Double the number. Doubling means adding the number to itself.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Write the answer. 2 × 12 = 24
Check. Check by dividing: 24 ÷ 2 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Doubling is not adding 2. To double 7, add 7 + 7, not 7 + 2.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 11 × 5 = 5 × 11. Use the 5 times table trick.11 × 5 = 5 × 11
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 11 = 110
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 100 = 50, half of 10 = 5, so 50 + 5 = 55
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.11 × 5 = 55
Check. Check by dividing: 55 ÷ 5 = 11. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. Four is double double. Double the number, then double the answer.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 12 × 4 = 4 × 12. Use the 4 times table trick.12 × 4 = 4 × 12
- Double the number. This gives 2 lots.double 10 = 20, double 2 = 4, so 20 + 4 = 24
- Double the answer again. Doubling twice gives 4 lots.double 20 = 40, double 4 = 8, so 40 + 8 = 48
- Write the answer. 12 × 4 = 48
Check. Check by dividing: 48 ÷ 4 = 12. ✓
Watch out. You must double twice. Doubling once gives the 2 times table.
Method. Five is half of ten. Multiply by 10 first, then halve the answer.
- Multiply by 10. This is easy: move the digits one place to the left.10 × 8 = 80
- Halve the answer. 5 is half of 10, so 5 lots of a number is half of 10 lots.half of 80 = 40
- Write the answer. Answers in the 5 times table end in 0 or 5.5 × 8 = 40
Check. Check by dividing: 40 ÷ 5 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Halve the answer to 10 × the number. Do not halve the number before you multiply by 10 and then forget to multiply.
Method. To multiply by 10, every digit moves one place to the left. The ones become tens.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 7 × 10 = 10 × 7. Use the 10 times table trick.7 × 10 = 10 × 7
- Think about tens. 10 × 7 means 7 lots of 10, which is 7 tens.7 tens
- Move the digits one place to the left. A tens column needs a 0 in the ones place.7 → 70
- Write the answer. 7 × 10 = 70
Check. Check by dividing: 70 ÷ 7 = 10. ✓
Watch out. The 10 times table has a 0 in the ones place every time. Put the 0 on the end, but think “tens” so you understand why.
Method. Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. Double the number.
- Swap the numbers round. Order does not matter in multiplication, so 8 × 2 = 2 × 8. Use the 2 times table trick.8 × 2 = 2 × 8
- Double the number. Doubling means adding the number to itself.8 + 8 = 16
- Write the answer. 8 × 2 = 16
Check. Check by dividing: 16 ÷ 2 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Doubling is not adding 2. To double 7, add 7 + 7, not 7 + 2.
Key words. A missing number is a number you have to find. Division and multiplication are inverses (opposites): they undo each other.
Method. Use the inverse operation. Multiplication and division undo each other.
- Say what the sentence means. We need the number that 8 is multiplied by to make 56.8 × ? = 56
- Use the inverse (opposite) operation. The opposite of multiplying is dividing. Divide 56 by 8.56 ÷ 8 = 7
- Write the missing number. 8 × 7 = 56
Check. Put it back: 8 × 7 = 56. ✓
Watch out. Do not just put the numbers in the box in the order you see them. Think about what the sentence means.
Key words. A missing number is a number you have to find. Division and multiplication are inverses (opposites): they undo each other.
Method. Use the inverse operation. Multiplication and division undo each other.
- Say what the sentence means. We need the number that, multiplied by 4, makes 36.? × 4 = 36
- Use the inverse (opposite) operation. Order does not matter in multiplication. Divide 36 by 4.36 ÷ 4 = 9
- Write the missing number. 9 × 4 = 36
Check. Put it back: 9 × 4 = 36. ✓
Watch out. Do not just put the numbers in the box in the order you see them. Think about what the sentence means.
Key words. A missing number is a number you have to find. Division and multiplication are inverses (opposites): they undo each other.
Method. Use the inverse operation. Multiplication and division undo each other.
- Say what the sentence means. We need the number that 5 is multiplied by to make 45.5 × ? = 45
- Use the inverse (opposite) operation. The opposite of multiplying is dividing. Divide 45 by 5.45 ÷ 5 = 9
- Write the missing number. 5 × 9 = 45
Check. Put it back: 5 × 9 = 45. ✓
Watch out. Do not just put the numbers in the box in the order you see them. Think about what the sentence means.
Key words. A missing number is a number you have to find. Division and multiplication are inverses (opposites): they undo each other.
Method. Use the inverse operation. Multiplication and division undo each other.
- Say what the sentence means. We need the number that, multiplied by 10, makes 120.? × 10 = 120
- Use the inverse (opposite) operation. Order does not matter in multiplication. Divide 120 by 10.120 ÷ 10 = 12
- Write the missing number. 12 × 10 = 120
Check. Put it back: 12 × 10 = 120. ✓
Watch out. Do not just put the numbers in the box in the order you see them. Think about what the sentence means.
Key words. A missing number is a number you have to find. Division and multiplication are inverses (opposites): they undo each other.
Method. Use the inverse operation. Multiplication and division undo each other.
- Say what the sentence means. We need the number that 4 is multiplied by to make 48.4 × ? = 48
- Use the inverse (opposite) operation. The opposite of multiplying is dividing. Divide 48 by 4.48 ÷ 4 = 12
- Write the missing number. 4 × 12 = 48
Check. Put it back: 4 × 12 = 48. ✓
Watch out. Do not just put the numbers in the box in the order you see them. Think about what the sentence means.
Key words. A missing number is a number you have to find. Division and multiplication are inverses (opposites): they undo each other.
Method. Use the inverse operation. Multiplication and division undo each other.
- Say what the sentence means. We need the number that, multiplied by 8, makes 72.? × 8 = 72
- Use the inverse (opposite) operation. Order does not matter in multiplication. Divide 72 by 8.72 ÷ 8 = 9
- Write the missing number. 9 × 8 = 72
Check. Put it back: 9 × 8 = 72. ✓
Watch out. Do not just put the numbers in the box in the order you see them. Think about what the sentence means.
Method. Each hop on the number line is the same size. Work out the size of one hop, then add it on.
- Find the size of each hop. The labels at the start show it.0 to 8: each hop is 8.
- Fill each box. Add 8 to the number before the box.8 + 8 = 16
32 + 8 = 40
48 + 8 = 56 - Write the missing numbers. 16, 40, 56
Check. The last number is 8 × 8 = 64. ✓
Watch out. Count the hops, not the numbers. There is a number at the start (0).
Method. Start with 7. Double it three times. Then say which multiplication this is.
- Double 7. Doubling means adding the number to itself.7 + 7 = 14
- Double again. Use the new answer.double 10 = 20, double 4 = 8, so 20 + 8 = 28
- Double a third time. double 20 = 40, double 8 = 16, so 40 + 16 = 56
- Say which multiplication it is. Doubling three times means multiplying by 2, then 2, then 2. That is the same as multiplying by 8.7 × 8 = 56
Check. Use the 5 and 2 trick: 7 × 5 = 35 and 7 × 2 = 14. 35 + 14 = 49, so 7 × 7 = 49, and 49 + 7 = 56. ✓
Watch out. Write each double clearly. It is easy to lose track of which double you are on.
Method. There are 9 equal groups, so multiply the number in one group by the number of groups.
- Draw a bar model. 9 equal bars show 9 equal packs. Each bar is 4. We want the total.
- Choose the operation. Equal groups: multiply the number of groups by the amount in each group.9 × 4
- Work it out. Use a times table trick.9 + 9 = 18
double 10 = 20, double 8 = 16, so 20 + 16 = 36
9 × 4 = 36 - Write the answer. Include the unit.36 pens
Check. Divide back: 36 ÷ 9 = 4. ✓
Watch out. Check that you multiplied. Equal groups mean the total is bigger than the size of one group.
Method. There are 8 equal groups, so multiply the number in one group by the number of groups.
- Draw a bar model. 8 equal bars show 8 equal tickets. Each bar is £5. We want the total.
- Choose the operation. Equal groups: multiply the number of groups by the amount in each group.8 × £5
- Work it out. Use a times table trick.10 × 8 = 80
half of 80 = 40
8 × 5 = 40 - Write the answer. Include the unit.£40
Check. Divide back: 40 ÷ 8 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Check that you multiplied. Equal groups mean the total is bigger than the size of one group.
Method. There are 12 equal groups, so multiply the number in one group by the number of groups.
- Draw a bar model. 12 equal bars show 12 equal boxes. Each bar is 8. We want the total.
- Choose the operation. Equal groups: multiply the number of groups by the amount in each group.12 × 8
- Work it out. Use a times table trick.10 × 8 = 80
8 + 8 = 16
80 + 16 = 96
12 × 8 = 96 - Write the answer. Include the unit.96 pencils
Check. Divide back: 96 ÷ 12 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Check that you multiplied. Equal groups mean the total is bigger than the size of one group.
Method. Work out 4 × 6 and 8 × 6 and see if one is double the other.
- Work out 4 × 6. Double 6, then double again.6 + 6 = 12, double 12 = 24, so 4 × 6 = 24
- Double it. Doubling the number of groups doubles the total.double 24 = 48
- Work out 8 × 6. Double three times.6 + 6 = 12, double 12 = 24, double 24 = 48, so 8 × 6 = 48
- Compare. 48 = 48, so yes, 8 × 6 is double 4 × 6.
Check. 8 is double 4. So 8 lots of anything is double 4 lots. ✓
Watch out. Only the number of groups doubles (4 → 8). The size of each group (6) stays the same.
Method. Check the 10 times table.
- List some. 10 times a number makes tens, so the ones digit is 0.10, 20, 30, 40, ... 100, 110, 120
- Decide. The ones digit is 0 every time.Always
Check. 10 × 12 = 120 ends in 0. ✓
Watch out. “Always” needs a reason, not just a few examples.
Method. Write the 5 times table and look at the last digit.
- List the 5 times table. Look at the ones digits.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60
- Decide. 5 ends in 5, but 10 ends in 0.Sometimes: they end in 5 or 0.
Check. The ones digits go 5, 0, 5, 0, ... so only half end in 5. ✓
Watch out. “Sometimes” needs an example that works and one that does not.
Method. List the numbers in both times tables that are between 30 and 50. Look for a number that is in both lists.
- List the 4 times table between 30 and 50. Count up in 4s.32, 36, 40, 44, 48
- List the 5 times table between 30 and 50. Count up in 5s.35, 40, 45
- Find the number in both lists. 40
Check. 4 × 10 = 40 and 5 × 8 = 40. ✓
Watch out. Check the number is in both tables, not just one.