Multiplication Facts Games
No matter how many computers and calculators are available, memorizing the multiplication table is a useful skill to have. Using games and fun tricks for remembering multiplication facts can make it easier for kids and adults to learn.
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Instructions
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Play a multiplication card game. This game can be played with a regular deck of cards. Go fast to encourage memorization instead of looking up the answer. Slap two cards down quickly (e.g., a 4 card and a 5 card). The first person to say the answer (e.g., 4 x 5 = 20) keeps those cards. The player with the most cards at the end of the deck is the winner.
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Use the 4 times trick. Multiplying by 2s is easy because the answer is double the number (e.g., 2 x 4 = 8). Make multiplying 4 just as easy by doubling the number twice (e.g., 2 x 4 = 8 is the same as 2 x 2x 2 = 8).
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Use the 9 times trick. Hold both hands in front of you with fingers outstretched. For the equation 9 x 4, bend down the fourth finger (for 9 x 5 it would be the fifth finger, etc.). There will be three fingers in front of the bent finger; each of those is worth 10. There will be 6 fingers after the bent finger; each of those is worth 1. Add them together to get 36, which is the answer to 9 x 4. This works up to 9 x 10.
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Use the 11 times trick. For numbers 1 through 9, duplicate the number. For instance, 11 x 2 = 22. For numbers over 10, take the number and write it with a space in between, then add 1 to the last number and put it in the middle. For instance, 11 x 18 will be 1_8; add 1 to the last number and add it in the middle for 198.
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Tips & Warnings
Memorizing times tables will make harder math easier because you can skip the step of looking up the answer or calculating.
