Discover smart strategies to multiply faster! Learn skip counting, doubling, using patterns, and finding shortcuts. These strategies turn you into a multiplication master! 🧠✨
Master multiplication strategies with these engaging activities!
Learn to multiply by counting in groups!
Use doubling to multiply by 2, 4, or 8!
🖱️ Drag options below to the correct boxes (computer) or click to move (mobile)
Build on facts you already know!
Choose the smartest strategy for each problem!
Click all correct options
Explore 7 comprehensive knowledge cards about multiplication strategies!
Skip counting is counting by a number repeatedly - it's multiplication in action! When you skip count by 5s six times (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30), you're literally doing 5 × 6. Each number you say represents one group of 5. This strategy is perfect for visual learners and helps build multiplication fluency naturally!
To find 5 × 6, count by 5s six times: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 = 30
To find 3 × 7, count by 3s seven times: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 = 21
Skip counting connects multiplication to counting patterns
Works great for 2s, 5s, 10s - easy skip counting numbers!
Keep track on your fingers: each finger = one count
Use your fingers to track! Hold up one finger for each number you say. When all fingers are up (or however many you need), that's your answer. This prevents losing count!
Losing track of how many times you've counted! Always use fingers, tally marks, or count out loud to stay organized. Miss one count and your answer is wrong!
Counting money! Skip count by 5s for nickels, by 10s for dimes, by 25s for quarters. Skip counting is how we naturally count large amounts!
Practice skip counting daily! Count by 2s to 20, by 5s to 50, by 10s to 100. The more automatic it becomes, the faster you'll multiply!
The doubling strategy uses the fact that multiplying by 2 is just adding a number to itself. Since 4 = 2 × 2, multiplying by 4 means double-doubling! And 8 = 2 × 2 × 2, so multiplying by 8 means triple-doubling! This strategy is lightning fast once you master doubling!
To multiply by 2: Just double! 7 × 2 = 7 + 7 = 14
To multiply by 4: Double twice! 7 × 4 = (7 × 2) × 2 = 14 × 2 = 28
To multiply by 8: Double three times! 7 × 8 = 28 × 2 = 56
Doubling is fast mental math - no memorization needed!
Works because 4 = 2 × 2, and 8 = 2 × 2 × 2
Master your doubles! Know instantly that 6+6=12, 7+7=14, 8+8=16, 9+9=18. Once doubles are automatic, doubling twice (for ×4) or three times (for ×8) becomes easy!
Forgetting to double enough times! For ×4, you must double TWICE. For ×8, double THREE times. Keep track carefully!
Doubling recipes! 'This recipe serves 4, but we need to serve 8, so double everything!' Understanding doubling helps in cooking and baking!
Play 'Double It!' - Say a number, someone doubles it. Then double that answer. See how high you can go! This builds doubling speed!
You don't need to memorize every multiplication fact separately! If you know one fact, you can figure out nearby facts by adding or subtracting. Know 6 × 7? Then 7 × 7 is just one more group of 7! This 'building on known facts' strategy makes multiplication easier and reduces memory load!
If you know 5 × 6 = 30, then 6 × 6 = 30 + 6 = 36 (one more 6)
If you know 7 × 7 = 49, then 7 × 8 = 49 + 7 = 56 (one more 7)
If you know 8 × 4 = 32, then 8 × 3 = 32 - 8 = 24 (one less 8)
Build up OR down from facts you already know!
This reduces what you need to memorize!
Start with easy facts like ×1, ×2, ×5, ×10. Then build from there! If you know 4 × 5 = 20, you can figure out 4 × 6 = 20 + 4 = 24!
Adding the wrong number! If going from 6 × 7 to 7 × 7, add 7 (not 1, not 6). You're adding one more GROUP of 7!
Mental math shortcuts! In stores, restaurants, anywhere you need quick calculations, building on known facts is how adults multiply in their heads!
Create 'fact families' - if you know 5 × 6 = 30, write out: 5 × 5 = 25, 5 × 6 = 30, 5 × 7 = 35. See the pattern!
Breaking apart (decomposing) makes hard multiplication easier! If 7 × 6 is tricky, break 6 into 5 + 1 (easier numbers). Then: (7 × 5 = 35) + (7 × 1 = 7) = 42! You've turned one hard problem into two easy ones. This is the same partial products strategy, but used as a mental math trick!
To find 7 × 6: Think (7 × 5) + (7 × 1) = 35 + 7 = 42
To find 8 × 7: Think (8 × 5) + (8 × 2) = 40 + 16 = 56
Break the harder number into easier parts to multiply!
This uses the distributive property: a × (b + c) = (a × b) + (a × c)
Choose your break-apart wisely for easier math!
Break into fives! Most people know their ×5 facts well. Break 6 into 5+1, break 7 into 5+2, break 8 into 5+3. Then add the results!
Breaking apart and forgetting to add! You must add both partial products. If you break 7×6 into (7×5)+(7×1), don't forget the +7 part!
This is how most people multiply in their heads! 'I need 7 boxes of 6 - that's 7 boxes of 5 (35) plus 7 more (7) = 42 total!'
Practice with 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s - the 'harder' facts. Break them into 5 + something. Get comfortable with this pattern!
Multiplication is full of beautiful patterns! Recognizing these patterns makes facts easier to remember and check. The ×9 pattern is amazing - not only do the digits add to 9, but the tens digit is always one less than the number you're multiplying (7 × 9 = 63, tens digit is 6 = 7-1)! Pattern recognition is powerful!
×1 pattern: Any number × 1 = that number (7 × 1 = 7)
×10 pattern: Any number × 10 = add a zero (7 × 10 = 70)
×5 pattern: Always ends in 0 or 5 (7 × 5 = 35)
×9 pattern: Digits add to 9! (7 × 9 = 63, and 6+3=9)
Even × Even = Even. Odd × Odd = Odd!
Use patterns to check answers! If you multiply by 5 and don't get 0 or 5 at the end, you made a mistake. Patterns catch errors!
Not noticing patterns! Take time to observe and discover patterns. They make multiplication magical instead of just memorization!
Patterns help with estimation and checking! If someone says 7 × 5 = 37, you know it's wrong (must end in 5!).
Become a pattern detective! Make a times table chart and color-code patterns. Find as many patterns as you can!
The commutative property means you can multiply in any order and get the same answer! This is HUGE because it means you only need to learn half the multiplication facts. If you know 3 × 8 = 24, you automatically know 8 × 3 = 24. This property is why multiplication is powerful and efficient!
3 × 7 = 7 × 3 (both equal 21)
If you know 4 × 9 = 36, you automatically know 9 × 4 = 36!
This cuts your memorization in HALF!
Order doesn't matter in multiplication (but it does in subtraction!)
Think: 3 groups of 7 = 7 groups of 3 (same total)
When faced with a hard fact, flip it! Is 3 × 9 hard? Think 9 × 3 instead (count by 3s nine times: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27)! Use the easier order!
Trying to memorize both orders as separate facts! 4×7 and 7×4 are the same fact, just flipped. Learn one, get both free!
Flexibility in thinking! Whether calculating '5 boxes of 8 items' or '8 boxes of 5 items,' you can choose the easier way to think about it!
Make 'twin cards' - write 3×7 on one card and 7×3 on another. Practice recognizing they're twins with the same answer!
There's no single 'best' strategy for all multiplication - the smartest mathematicians choose strategies based on the problem! For 8×4, doubling is fastest. For 7×5, skip counting works great. For 8×7, you might build from 8×6. Flexibility and strategy selection are the hallmarks of mathematical thinking!
For ×2, ×4, ×8: Use doubling strategy
For ×5, ×10: Use skip counting
For ×3, ×6, ×7, ×9: Use break-apart or build-on facts
For ×1, ×0: Use properties (anything ×1 = itself, anything ×0 = 0)
Different problems call for different strategies - be flexible!
Try multiple strategies! Solve the same problem different ways. Compare which was faster or easier. Building strategy awareness makes you more efficient!
Using the same strategy for everything! Some strategies work better for certain numbers. Experiment to find what works best for each situation!
Strategic thinking transfers everywhere! In life, choosing the right approach for each situation (not using the same method for everything) is wisdom!
Strategy challenge: For each fact, list 2-3 strategies you could use. Pick the fastest one. This builds strategy awareness!