GurooHow to multiply by 9 in your head (finger trick)
The 9 times table has a famous finger trick that children love, and a second method that works for any number.
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Worksheet includes an answer key for grown-ups
How it works
- Hold up 10 fingers.
- Fold down the finger for the number (the 4th finger for 4 × 9).
- Fingers to the left are tens, fingers to the right are ones.
Worked example
4 × 9: fold the 4th finger. 3 fingers on the left, 6 on the right. 4 × 9 = 36.
Top tip
For bigger numbers: times 10, then take one lot away. 12 × 9 = 120 − 12 = 108.
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