The full 4 times table, from 4×1 to 4×12
Here is the 4 times table in full. Read it both ways : 4×3 = 12, but also 12 = 3×4. It is the same operation, and it is what saves you time once you already know the earlier tables.
Three tricks that make the 4 times table easier
1. Double twice
4×n = 2×(2×n). Example: 4×7 = 2×14 = 28. The brain prefers two easy steps to one it cannot do.
2. Every answer is even
Like the 2 times table, multiples of 4 end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. They also cycle through the units: 4, 8, 2, 6, 0, 4, 8, 2, 6, 0...
3. The rule of 4 in big numbers
A multiple of 4 always has its last two digits divisible by 4. It is a trick used even in secondary school to test the divisibility of large numbers.
How to memorise the 4 times table in two weeks
Learning a times table is not about being clever, it is about spaced repetition. The brain holds on to information long-term when it reviews it just before forgetting, not by repeating it fifty times in one evening.
- Count in 4s out loud up to 48.
- Recite the table by doubling the 2 times table: 4×7 = 14 doubled = 28.
- Practise the ones you get stuck on (often 4×7 and 4×8).
Frequently asked questions about the 4 times table
How do you learn the 4 times table easily?
Multiplying by 4 is the same as doubling twice. If you know the 2 times table, then 4×7 = 2×(2×7) = 2×14 = 28. It is the fastest way to memorise the 4 times table.
Why does the 4 times table come from the 2 times table?
Because 4 = 2×2. Multiplying by 4 is therefore multiplying by 2 twice. This link makes the 4 times table one of the easiest once you know the 2.
At what age do you learn the 4 times table?
The 4 times table is introduced in Year 2-3 (age 6-8) in the UK and Grade 2 in the US, usually right after the 3.