I have difficulty in the times table, can you help me?

short answers for big questions

HNowadays pupils don’t usually know the times table due to the intensive use of the calculator. Having in mind that you know the 2, 3, 4 and 5 times tables, which are the easiest ones for you to memorize, there is a little trick for you to learn the 6, 7, 8 and 9 times tables with the help of your fingers. I will show you some examples that will help you to understand what I have just said:

`8 xx 7`

  • On your left hand you put 3 fingers down (because `8 - 5 = 3`)     On your right hand, you put 2 fingers down (because `7 - 5 = 2`);
  • Contagem de dedos2Contagem de dedos3
  • The total of fingers which are put down corresponds to tens. So, `5 xx 10 = 50`;
  • You multiply the fingers which are up and you will have `3 xx 2 = 6`;
  • And finally, you will sum up the two results and you will obtain `50 + 6 = 56`.

`9 xx 6`

  • On your left hand you put 4 fingers down (because `9 - 5 = 4`)     On your right hand you put 1 finger down (because `6 - 5 = 1`);
  • Contagem de dedos1Contagem de dedos4
  • The total of fingers which are down corresponds to tens and so `5 xx 10 = 50`;
  • You multiply the fingers which are up and so `1 xx 4 = 4`;
  • Finally, you sum up the two results and you will have `50 + 4 = 54`.

`8 xx 8`

  • On your left hand you put 3 fingers down (because `8 - 5 = 3`)     On your right hand you put 3 fingers down (because `8 - 5 = 3`);
  • Contagem de dedos2Contagem de dedos2
  • The total of fingers which are down corresponds to tens and so `6 xx 10 = 60`;
  • You multiply the fingers which are up and you will have `2 xx 2 = 4`;
  • Finally, you sum up these two results and you will obtain `60 + 4 = 64`.


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