Operations and calculations

4. Multiplication

Multiplication involves adding the same number to itself multiple times, and we use the multiply, or times, (x) operator to indicate this.

So rather than:

2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 12 (6 lots of 2 added together)

we could simply say:

6 x 2 = 12 (six times two, or six twos).

Note that the same result is achieved when swapping the numbers around, i.e.

2 x 6 = 12 (two times 6, or two sixes).


Times tables

You may have learned your ‘times tables’ by rote, when you were at school, chanting them out aloud, over and over until they stuck:

“One two is two, two twos are four, three twos are six….”

Learning and being able to recall the relevant sections, e.g. “six twos are twelve” helps with mental arithmetic (doing quick calculations in your head).


Using a grid

You can also use times tables written as a grid, such as the one shown here, which covers multiples of 1 to 12.

The result of 6 x 2 can be found where the lines from 6 on one axis and 2 on the other intersect, as highlighted.

X 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
3 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36
4 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
6 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
7 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84
8 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
9 9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90 99 108
10 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
11 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 110 121 132
12 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120 132 144