Step-by-step Maths Level 4: The 3 times table
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 4 times tables 3 and 4 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The 3 times table
The 3 times table counts in threes: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and so on. Each answer is one more group of 3.
Learn the facts in order, then say them in any order.
Key ideas
- Count in threes for the 3 times table.
- Each answer is one more group of 3.
- The order of the numbers does not change the answer.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 6. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 6 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 6 = 18
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.18
Check. Check: 6 × 3 is also 18.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 9. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 9 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 9 = 27
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.27
Check. Check: 9 × 3 is also 27.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 12. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 12 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 12 = 36
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.36
Check. Check: 12 × 3 is also 36.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Watch out
Watch out. 3 × 8 is 24, not 21. Count in threes carefully and count the number of steps.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Count in threes on the fingers of both hands, with a finger for each step. Ask: “Which fact can you say quickly?”
Exercise 4A Practice: the 3 times table
Non-calculatorMethod. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 8. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 8 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 8 = 24
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.24
Check. Check: 8 × 3 is also 24.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 3. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 3 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 3 = 9
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.9
Check. Check: 3 × 3 is also 9.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 4. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 4 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 4 = 12
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.12
Check. Check: 4 × 3 is also 12.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 12. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 12 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 12 = 36
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.36
Check. Check: 12 × 3 is also 36.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 6. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 6 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 6 = 18
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.18
Check. Check: 6 × 3 is also 18.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 4. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 4 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 4 = 12
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.12
Check. Check: 4 × 3 is also 12.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 2. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 2 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 2 = 6
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.6
Check. Check: 2 × 3 is also 6.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 6. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 6 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 6 = 18
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.18
Check. Check: 6 × 3 is also 18.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 11. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 11 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 11 = 33
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.33
Check. Check: 11 × 3 is also 33.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 12. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 12 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 12 = 36
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.36
Check. Check: 12 × 3 is also 36.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 1. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 1 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 1 = 3
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.3
Check. Check: 1 × 3 is also 3.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 10. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 10 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 10 = 30
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.30
Check. Check: 10 × 3 is also 30.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 1. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 1 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 1 = 3
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.3
Check. Check: 1 × 3 is also 3.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 10. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 10 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 10 = 30
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.30
Check. Check: 10 × 3 is also 30.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 7. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 7 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 7 = 21
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.21
Check. Check: 7 × 3 is also 21.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.
Method. Count in 3s to find 3 groups of 7. The order of the two numbers does not matter.
- Count in 3s, 7 times. Each count adds one more group of 3.3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21
- The last number we said is the answer. We counted in equal groups.3 × 7 = 21
- Write the answer. The order of the numbers does not change the answer.21
Check. Check: 7 × 3 is also 21.
Watch out. Say the 3 times table in order until you reach the fact you need.