Tables 2, 5, 10

In 2nd grade you don't have to learn all the times tables at once. Start with three tables — the easiest ones, with simple patterns.

The 2 times table — just double

Multiplying by 2 is the same as adding a number to itself.

2 × 1 = 1 + 1 = 2
2 × 2 = 2 + 2 = 4
2 × 3 = 3 + 3 = 6
2 × 4 = 4 + 4 = 8
2 × 5 = 5 + 5 = 10

Notice: the answers are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 — all even numbers. That's the pattern of the 2 times table.

The 5 times table — count in fives

Multiplying by 5 means counting in fives.

5 × 1 = 5
5 × 2 = 5 + 5 = 10
5 × 3 = 5 + 5 + 5 = 15
5 × 4 = 20
5 × 5 = 25

Trick: the answer always ends in 5 or 0, alternating. That's a quick check that you got it right.

The 10 times table — just add a zero

Multiplying by 10 is the easiest thing in maths.

Three pairs of hands side by side — counting in tens

10 × 1 = 10
10 × 2 = 20
10 × 3 = 30
10 × 4 = 40
10 × 5 = 50

Trick: take the number and stick a zero on the end. That's it.

10 × 7 = 70 (the 7 becomes 70)
10 × 9 = 90 (the 9 becomes 90)

Why these three first

These three tables cover more ground than you'd think:

The multiples of 2 are all the even numbers.
The multiples of 5 — every second number when you count in fives.
The multiples of 10 are whole tens — those you already know from the hundred chart.

And thanks to the order rule (from the last article) — if you know the 2 times table you also know 2 × 7, 2 × 8, 2 × 9... and 7 × 2, 8 × 2, 9 × 2. Half the work.

Summary

Table 2 — double the number (5 + 5 = 10, so 2 × 5 = 10).
Table 5 — count in fives. The answers end in 5 or 0.
Table 10 — stick a zero on the end.
Because 3 × 4 = 4 × 3, these three tables already give you almost half of the times tables.