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.
2 × 8 = 16
A worked example
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.
Try it yourself
2 × 8 =
2 × 7 =
Watch out
You add instead of multiplying: for 2 × 8 you say 10.
Times 2 means the number twice: 8 + 8 = 16.
For times 5 you forget to halve, and say that 5 × 8 is 80.
Times 10 is only the first step. Then halve the answer.
Tips
- You can swap them round: 8 × 5 is the same as 5 × 8. Choose the way you find easier.
- Answers in the 5 times table always end in 0 or 5, and answers in the 10 times table always end in 0.
Exceptions
- Times 0 is always 0: zero groups of something is nothing.
Why it works
Times means: that many groups of. One group changes nothing, two groups is double, ten groups moves every digit one place to the left, and five groups is half of ten groups. If you know these four for certain, you can work out every other times table from them.