The 9 times table
The 9 times table is full of patterns, from finger tricks to digits that always add to nine.
9 times table, 1 to 12
- 9 × 1= 9
- 9 × 2= 18
- 9 × 3= 27
- 9 × 4= 36
- 9 × 5= 45
- 9 × 6= 54
- 9 × 7= 63
- 9 × 8= 72
- 9 × 9= 81
- 9 × 10= 90
- 9 × 11= 99
- 9 × 12= 108
Tricks for the 9 times table
Ten minus one
9 × 7 is 10 × 7 (70) minus 7, which is 63.
Digits add to 9
For 9 × 1 to 9 × 10, the digits of each answer add to 9. For 54, 5 + 4 = 9.
The finger trick
Hold up ten fingers. To work out 9 × 4, fold down the fourth finger. Three fingers are on the left and six are on the right, so the answer is 36.
Look for the pattern
The tens digit goes up by one as the units digit goes down by one: 09, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90.
An example
A bus fits 9 rows of seats. If each row has 6 children, how many children are on the bus?
9 × 6 = 54 children.
Once you can do these in your head, try the 9 times table game and see how big a beat you can build.
Frequently asked questions
How does the finger trick for 9s work?
Folding down finger number n splits your fingers into n−1 on the left (tens) and 10−n on the right (units). It works for 9 × 1 up to 9 × 10.
Why do the digits of the 9s always add to nine?
Because 9 is one less than 10. Each extra 9 adds one to the tens digit and takes one from the units digit, so the total stays 9.