Multiplication. Are there any tricks or tips to teach a child any easier way to do it.?

Question

My 10 year old is having problems wrapping his brain around the times tables.

Answer 1

I'm currently studying to teach elementary school at my university, and I came across this type of situation in my math class! Believe it or not, there are MANY different other ways to multiply (and add, subtract, or divide) which are called algorithms.

It's hard for me to explain in a way that makes sense, so I found a few sites you can look at. If you decide this works for you, but you have questions, don't hesitate to email me! :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplication_algorithm#Long_multiplication
http://www.nychold.com/em-arith.html
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/LearningCenterWebPages/pages/everydaymath/algorithms.html

The first link is a more complicated answer than the others, but I figured you may want to check it out anyway. The last two have the algorithms for the other operations, so you'll have to scroll on the second link and choose Lattice Multiplication/Partial Products.

Honestly, I think some of these methods are a lot better than the usual way.

Oh, and another cool trick for multiplying 9 is to stick out your two hands in front of you with all of your fingers spread. Say the problem is 9x2. Starting from the left, count over to the second finger, and put it down. Now you hands look like this:
\ _ \ \ \ / / / / /. The finger you've put down is meant to separate the tens from the ones, and all that's left to do is count. Each finger before the space represents ten, so if you had 5 fingers before the space, it would =50. After the space, the fingers represent one.

So in the case of the example, the fingers represent:1_8... 18! I don't know, it amused me a lot in elementary school haha.

Answer 2

First, check his understanding of what multiplication is. He should be able to tell you that 3 x 4 means 4 + 4 + 4 or if you show him an array of dots, 3 rows of 4 dots, he should be able to tell you the multiplication equation of 3 x 4 (even if he can't tell you automatically what the answer is). If he can't do that, then start there, exploring "frontwards and backwards" things like 3 x 4 = 4+4+4 and 4+4+4=3x4.

After that, it's practice, practice, practice. 10-15 minutes a day, more if possible. Many kids do best focusing on just one table at a time. At first the table would be done in order (so, 1x3, 2x3, 3x3, etc.) until they do well with that. Then you'd mix them up.

With some kids it's better (and even some programs recommend) to just focus on 2 different facts a day. So, a child might do 3 x 4 ( accompanied by 4 x 3) and 3 x 5 (accompanied by 5 x 3) for as long as it takes to do them quickly. Once that's pretty good, then add two new ones, but keep reviewing the old. Yes, this does take time. But for some kids it really does work best.

Either way requires regular, steady practice. Do things orally, written, both. Use blank times tables to fill in, homemade worksheets, flash cards, etc. Whatever you do, do NOT time the child or require speed until the table is fairly well mastered.

Answer 3

The only "trick" I learned involved the "9's". Every answer will start with one number less than the number being multiplied and the 2nd number will make the sum of both equal to 9.

For example 9 x 7... The 1st # is a 6 and, to add up to 9, the 2nd # must then be a 3 for a final answer of 63. This applies to all of the numbers 1 through 9 and even 10.

x 2 = 18
x 3 = 27
x 4 = 36
x 5 = 45
x 6 = 54
x 7 = 63
x 8 = 72
x 9 = 81
x 10 = 90

Answer 4

I had a hard time too, it would have helped me considerably if someone had told me my life does not depend on the multiplication tables. Then, start with easy stuff, like one times a number is always that number, add a zero to the end of anything multiplied by 10, numbers multiplied by 5 always end in 0 or 5, ect. For the trickier ones, make up a song. Part of mine was 7 times 8 is 56, my dog Fiedo can do tricks. Things are easier to learn if there is an easy rule or if they are in a song.

Answer 5

Multiplication can be a tricky concept for lots of kids to learn! While teaching overseas my math class were the group of kids who had difficulties and were achieving well below level. The trick that worked for many of them was to practice their skip counting for all digits from 1-10. Once they know how to skip count (by memory) multiplication becomes much easier. In my class we started with the 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's. Once they mastered that (up to 10 places) we moved on to the 3's and 4's then finally the 6's, 7's, 8's and 9's. Many were still stumped with the higher ones, but they were grasping the idea and their multiplication scores improved.
The key is repetition. Write it on a strip of paper and chant it together (forwards and backwards), then after several times start asking multiplication questions involving the number you were looking at, keeping the strip of paper there. Eventually take the paper away and repeat the process. It may take time, but hopefully memory from the repititon will kick in and your son will become more confident!

Answer 6

Does he have a little table thing-e? Well, the way I learned was it's like adding only a faster way. Like, somebody would ask me before I really learned it well, 3x3 , So I would add the first number how many times the second number said. After I got the hang of this, I started memorizing that part and eventually when I was 11, I was one of the fastest multipliers. I learned how to multiply @ 10 also.

Answer 7

Try some simple skip counting exercises (3, 6, 9, 12, 15...) then relate that to multiplication.

Answer 8

Sometimes chanting, rapping or singing the times tables helps with memorization. There are some websites where you can get more information. Just google multiplication songs.

Answer 9

try examples with sweets and get him to learn by rote the times tables up to twlve

Answer 10

do u now the 9 method?You put ur fingers up and two hands put two fingers down u sholud get 18.well i hoped it helped.

BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.s.GOOD LUCK!