Register

How were you taught to multiply?

Q&A Home   >  Education   >  K-12

Did a teacher make you memorize the table, or did they use a different method?

Is This A Good Question? (7)

Add an Answer to "How were you taught to multiply?"

Send me an email when there are new answers to this question

16 Answers to "How were you taught to multiply?"

  1. dmichaelangelo - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by dmichaelangelo Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:41PM

    Schoolhouse Rock.

    Like (3)

  2. JoeDiablo - 36-40 years old - male

    Posted by JoeDiablo Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:38PM

    I basically learned by playing doctor with the girl next door.

    Like (3)

  3. darkknight3 - 22-25 years old - male

    Posted by darkknight3 Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:42PM

    i forgot how i learned it .. by addition method , then by table and then using all sorts of technique :D

    Like (2)

  4. NewChrissy - 26-30 years old - female

    Posted by NewChrissy Oct 25th, 2012 at 9:00AM

    My Uncle taught me several methods, including how to do it on an abacus & a slide rule & the Trachtenberg Speed System. I remember one particular School Teacher being terribly upset that I used Finger Math to multiply on my hands! (Add the folded fingers to get the ten's digit, multiply the standing fingers to get the one's digit. Easy.) Why not, they are always with me!! She reacted like I was casting evil spells or something and my mathematical future was in jeopardy!!! But she couldn't stop me, even when she was holding my hands I just moved my fingers in my head. But eventually she browbeat me into memorizing everything up to 25x25.

    Like (1)

  5. kintar0 - 22-25 years old - male

    Reply by kintar0 Oct 25th, 2012 at 9:06AM

    I like your uncle, and hate your teacher. Having studied to be a secondary math teacher I would have no qualms about students using their fingers, it tells me that they KNOW what multiplication is. I much prefer that than a magical unquestioned calculator.

    Like (1)

  6. NewChrissy - 26-30 years old - female

    Reply by NewChrissy Oct 25th, 2012 at 10:31AM

    @c00lfac3: You can do Finger Math without understanding multiplication or how/why your hands give you the correct answers. Explaining that actually involves more sophistication (Algebra) than memorizing the Tables. And extending it to problems beyond 10x10 is tricky! Also, read the comments on my "I really do!" story for my math experience with a 2nd Grade Teacher: ht`tp://www.experienceproject.com/uw.php?e=2383908

    Like (1)

  7. CazieM - 26-30 years old - female

    Posted by CazieM Jul 9th, 2012 at 5:41PM

    Had a teacher tell me to always think of counting money...never made a mistake again!!!!

    Like (1)

  8. Girlkayakgirl - 61-65 years old

    Posted by Girlkayakgirl Jul 9th, 2012 at 5:34PM

    Memorize and trust in my first answer without questioning it

    Like (1)

  9. rubytues - 13-15 years old - female

    Posted by rubytues Jul 9th, 2012 at 5:07PM

    I was taught to memorize the tables, but I never did. To help me with the harder ones, I just added that many times in my head. I know that 7 x 4 = 28, so I just add 3 more sevens to the 28. It seems like a lot, but I struggled with math so bad that I just had to come up with ways to do it on my own, successfully. Try different methods to help realize what best works for you/someone else, or ask them what they like to do, and incorporate that into your learning methods.

    Like (1)

  10. xxorama - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by xxorama Jul 9th, 2012 at 5:03PM

    Times tables

    Like (1)

  11. uknudy - 51-55 years old - male

    Posted by uknudy Jul 9th, 2012 at 5:01PM

    Well I was taught that if you want to multiply you first need one of each gender, they get together, and hopefully 9 months later you will have increased the number of people!!!
    But seriously all kids should learn their times tables and practice mental arithmetic, at least then they should have an idea of whether the calculator result is correct.

    Like (1)

  12. fishsweeper - 51-55 years old - female

    Posted by fishsweeper Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:49PM

    I just had s3x and it happened!

    Like (1)

  13. Blogettina - 56-60 years old - female

    Posted by Blogettina Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:46PM

    I remember starting with 1; repetition. 1 x1, 1x2, until I learned that anything times one is that thing. The memorized the tables. had to teach my boys the same way. Is there another way? Would the abacus remove the need for all that memory work?

    Like (1)

  14. Aurinne - 31-35 years old - female

    Posted by Aurinne Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:43PM

    an apple orchard

    Like (1)

  15. faeryflutterthe1andonly - 41-45 years old - female

    Posted by faeryflutterthe1andonly Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:40PM

    The Bible told me too!

    Like (1)

  16. Hermey - 36-40 years old - male

    Posted by Hermey Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:39PM

    I memorized tables, but someone recently taught me some trick using their fingers to help when multiplying by nine. I of course for got it.

    Like (1)

  17. Rolle2323 - 56-60 years old - female

    Posted by Rolle2323 Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:38PM

    Memorization.

    Like (1)

  18. delt - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by delt Jul 9th, 2012 at 4:38PM

    memorize tables

    Like (1)

Ask A Question

Answers to questions are provided for entertainment purposes only. You should never use answers to questions provided here to replace professional advice, such as from a doctor or lawyer. This page is for providing answers to the question "How were you taught to multiply?"