Maths game: Do the times tables on your fingers

Everybody usually knows their two, three, four and five times tables, but it's the tricky higher ones where we all come unstuck. Here's a great multiplication game for kids where you can work out your six, seven, eight, nine times tables with just your fingers.

What you need:

• 1 x FREE printable: how to multiply on your fingers
• A good working knowledge of your two, three, four and five times tables

Number of players:
1

Activity:

Print out the diagram above. Or you can make your own by tracing around your child's hands and numbering the fingers from 6 – 10 starting at the thumb. Keep the diagram nearby as a reference point for which fingers represent which numbers.

Example:

6 x 9

Join the thumb (6) from left hand to the ring finger (9) on your right hand.  There will be three fingers in front of the two joined fingers.

Part 1:

Count in 10s, all the fingers up to and including the two joined fingers.

You should have, thumb (10) pointer (20) middle (30) on the right hand and no fingers before the thumb on the left.

So including the two joined fingers you arrive at a number of 50.  Remember that number.

Part 2:

How many fingers are behind each joined finger?

You will have 1 on the right hand (the pinkie) and 4  fingers on the left hand.

Multiply those two numbers together: 1 x 4 = 4

Now add the original number from Part 1 = 50

50 +  4 x 1 = 54

6 x 9 = 54

This trick works for all the times tables from 6 to 10.

While it's just as easy to commit your times tables to memory, this fun multiplication trick shows kids how logical and magical maths really is.

• Thanks to our sister company Kidspot Australia for creating the instructional video.