Tips and Tricks for the 9x tables

Creative Resources for primary children| Revision tips| Education

July 01, 2024•3 min read

Each of the digits in the answers to the 9x table, add to make 9:

It struck me I don’t know if I’ve shared with you the 9x tables trick. I shared the multiplying 11 by double digits the other day, but I’m not sure about the 9’s.

The 9’s are my favourite times table to support as there are so many tricks. The first is if you write them all down, as the 10’s column goes up by 1 each time, the one’s column goes down by one:

1x9 =9

2x9=18

3x9=27

4x9 = 36

5x9= 45

6x9=54

7x9=63

8x9=72

9x9=81

10x9=90

(the pattern adjusts slightly at 11, but then it restarts after)

11x9=99

12x9=108

Put the other thing to notice is, each of the digits in the answers add to make 9:

7x9=63

6+3=9

2x9=18

1+8=9

It works with bigger answers too, if I was to take 31x9, my answer would be 279

2+7+9= 18

1+8=9

If you’re working with the 9x table and you want to check your answer, if the digits don’t add to make 9, you probably need to try again.

Then finally, my favourite trick is the one with the hands.

Start by holding your 2 hands out in front of you fingers outstretched.

We’ll start by working out 6x9

Starting at the first finger on the left count along until you get to the 6th finger, (which is probably your thumb on your right hand).

Put that thumb/finger down.

Everything to the left of that finger is a 10.

So, count each finger as a 10, until you get to the finger which is help down, they state stop or change.

Everything to the right of that finger is a 1.

I have 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, stop. 51, 52, 53, 54.

54 is your answer.

6x9=54

Try it again with another one if you want to.

Let’s try 9x9

So, this time, if you put down the 9th finger from the left.

Again, everything to the left of that finger is a 10. Everything to the right is worth a 1.

So, we have:

10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, stop. 81

9x9= 81

I think that is so clever.

I hope it helps you too if you didn’t know it.

Our goal at Clara James Tutoring is to make learning fun and accessible to everyone. If children are engaged in what they are doing they are more likely to want to participate, if they are enjoying it, they are more likely to relax and retain the information.

If they are retaining the information it will help boost their knowledge and with knowledge comes confidence.

If you have a child who enjoys learning through games and being more creative, and you enjoy spending time with them, you might be interested in the Clara James Approach, the membership group we have put together to support you in supporting your primary school aged child with their maths and English.

Interested?

Click here to learn more: The Clara James Approach

Dawn Strachan

For the past 20+ years I have been a firm believer that learning should be an enjoyable experience. I appreciate that traditionally education has revolved around worksheets, textbooks, listening to teachers. But a grounding in early years and working with children who had a variety of learning styles from I learned that it is an individual activity that is personal to all of us. We don’t all learn in the same way. Our influences, our experiences, our capabilities all influence how we retain information. But through it all, I believe that if we can make it enjoyable and engaging, they will want to participate. With participation comes practice which in turn boosts skill and confidence. With an increase in skill and confidence comes a willingness to have a go. This in turn leads to more practice which leads to a positive spiral of success. The moral, we need to make learning fun, engaging, use a range of techniques.

Back to Blog