Guides

9 Times Table Finger Trick, Step by Step

Ten fingers are all you need to work out any answer in the 9 times table. It takes a few seconds.

How it works

Hold both hands out and spread all ten fingers. Want 9 × 4? Fold down your fourth finger from the left.

Read the answer

The fingers to the left of the folded one are the tens (3 here) and the fingers to the right are the ones (6). The answer is 36. For 9 × 7, fold the seventh finger: 6 on the left and 3 on the right makes 63.

Why it works

Every answer in the 9 times table has digits that add up to 9 (3 + 6, 6 + 3). The tens digit is always one less than the number you multiply by, and the ones digit makes up the rest of 9.

Try it in the game

Try one round without your fingers: the 9 times table game only asks questions from that table.