Tricks for Memorizing Multiplication Facts

My students have enjoyed learning their multiplication facts (even 8th graders) when they are allowed to find patterns or tricks on their own. However, if you want the tricks without making that discovery....here are a few. Please feel free to comment and give me some of your tricks as well. Obviously, 0, 1, and 10 are super easy and do not need a trick. But, the rest can be made easier and racing against someone or even yourself for time is an excellent way to ensure these facts are forever in your mind. In fact, I have taught at-risk students how to memorize the tricks and fill out the table in less than 2 minutes. Who does not have 2 minutes on a big test to write out the facts so you don't have to worry about making an error? That is perfectly legal on the STAR test for you to write out the table on your scratch paper. Let's continue with my little tricks... 2's just double the number being multiplied 3's add the 1's and 2's columns 4's just double the 2's columns 5's just add the 2's and 3's columns or the 1's and 4's columns 6's just double the 3's columns 7's add the 3's and 4's columns 8's double the 4's column 9's use the 9's finger trick or notice the tens column goes up from 0 while the ones column goes down from 9 11's are easy until you get to double digits but separate the other number and put their sum in the middle (11 x 15 is done like this 1_5 the sum of 1 and 5 is 6 so put that in the middle to get 165) 12's are the 6's doubled * 56 = 7 x 8 which is a fact that a lot of people forget but if you look at it this way you will never forget 5,6,7,8 because they are in order. See what other tricks you can find and try to beat 2 minutes!