The 9 times table is 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90, 99, 108.
The 9s look scary because the numbers are big, but they hide more patterns than almost any other table. Many children end up calling the 9s their favorite once they learn the finger trick. Below are the strategies that work, why they work, and the 9s facts that most often get swapped with facts from the 6s, 7s and 8s.
Play: the 9 times table
Hold up all ten fingers. To find 9 × 4, fold down the 4th finger from the left. Count the fingers to the left of the folded one (3) and to the right (6): the answer is 36. For 9 × 7, fold the 7th finger: 6 on the left, 3 on the right, so 63. It works for every fact from 9 × 1 to 9 × 10, and kids love that it is "built into their hands".
For 9 × 1 to 9 × 10, the digits of the answer always add to 9: 18 (1 + 8), 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90. It is a fast way to check an answer. If your child says 9 × 6 = 56, the digits add to 11, so it cannot be right.
For 9 × 2 through 9 × 10, the tens digit of the answer is one less than the number you are multiplying by. 9 × 8: one less than 8 is 7, so the answer is in the 70s. Then use the digit-sum rule: 7 + ? = 9, so 72.
Nine of something is ten of it minus one. 9 × 7 = 70 − 7 = 63. This version works beyond 10 too: 9 × 12 = 120 − 12 = 108, and 9 × 11 = 110 − 11 = 99.
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9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90, 99, 108: the answers to 9 × 1 through 9 × 12.
Hold up 10 fingers and fold down the finger matching the number you are multiplying by. Fingers to the left are the tens, fingers to the right are the ones. For 9 × 3, fold the 3rd finger: 2 and 7, so 27.
Each step adds 10 and takes away 1, so the tens digit goes up by one while the ones digit goes down by one. Their total stays at 9 (for 9 × 1 through 9 × 10).
9 × 7 = 63. Ten sevens is 70, minus one seven is 63.
9 × 12 = 108. Ten twelves is 120, minus one twelve is 108.
No, it only works from 9 × 1 to 9 × 10. For 9 × 11 and 9 × 12, use "ten groups minus one group": 110 − 11 = 99 and 120 − 12 = 108.