How to Count Higher Than 10 on Fingers

Most people use their fingers to count, not just children. It may only be to figure out the date a few days from now, or to help add columns of numbers. Counting on fingers doesn't have to stop at 10. Follow the steps below to count to 99 on both hands.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Count 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the right hand by lowering the pinky, ring, middle and pointer fingers in that order. Keep all four fingers lowered to express 4.
2. Lower the thumb of the right hand to signal 5 while you raise the four fingers back up.
3. Keep the '5' thumb lowered and begin to lower the right fingers again adding to 5 with each finger. This gives you 6, 7, 8 and 9. All four fingers and the thumb of the right hand lowered equals 9.
4. Use your left hand for 10 through 90. Lower your left pinky and raise all the digits of your left hand to equal 10. Lower all four fingers of the left hand for 40. Lower the left thumb and pinky for 60. All four fingers and the thumb of the left hand lowered equals 90. Now with the right hand, add any number from 1 to 9.
5. Choose a number to express on your fingers, for example 38. Lower the pinky, ring and middle fingers of the left hand for 30 and add the right thumb, pinky, ring and middle fingers for 8, giving you 38.
6. Try adding 21 to the 38 you have. Lower the pointer finger on the right hand to add 1 to the 8 you already have, then lower the thumb and raise the four fingers of the left hand. The left thumb is 50 and all the fingers of the right hand are 9: 38 plus 21 equals 59.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice counting from 1 to 99 on your fingers. Then get comfortable expressing two digit numbers directly. Finally master addition and subtraction focusing on using the right hand for 1's and the left hand for 10's.