The anchor times tables: 1, 2, 5 and 10
You learn the four times tables that all the others build on (1, 2, 5 and 10), each with its own trick.
How to work it out
- Times 1: the number stays the same.
- Times 2: double the number.
- Times 10: put a 0 on the end.
- Times 5: first do times 10, then halve the answer.
8 × 2 = 10 × 2 − 2 × 2 = 20 − 4 = 16
5 × 8
- It is times 5, so start with times 10.
- Put a 0 on the end of 8: 10 × 8 = 80.
- Five groups is half of ten groups.
- Halve 80: that is 40.
- So 5 × 8 = 40.
More examples
2 × 7
Double 7: 7 + 7 = 14.
10 × 6
- Put a 0 on the end of 6.
- So 10 × 6 = 60.
1 × 9
One group of 9 is just 9.