9 Times Table : multiplication, tricks and practice

The 9 times table has a reputation for being hard, but it is actually one of the richest in tricks: the finger trick, the digit-sum rule and its link to the 10 times table.

The full 9 times table, from 9×1 to 9×12

Here is the 9 times table in full. Read it both ways : 9×3 = 27, but also 27 = 3×9. It is the same operation, and it is what saves you time once you already know the earlier tables.

9 × 19
9 × 218
9 × 327
9 × 436
9 × 545
9 × 654
9 × 763
9 × 872
9 × 981
9 × 1090
9 × 1199
9 × 12108

Three tricks that make the 9 times table easier

1. The ten-finger trick

Hold up both hands. For 9×4, fold down your 4th finger: 3 fingers to the left (tens) and 6 to the right (units), so 36. It works from 9×1 to 9×10, and it is children's favourite trick.

2. The digit sum is always 9

9×2 = 18 → 1+8 = 9. 9×7 = 63 → 6+3 = 9. Every multiple of 9 (up to 9×10) has a digit sum of 9. A built-in check.

3. A ten minus the number

9×n = 10×n − n. Example: 9×7 = 70 − 7 = 63. Subtract the number from its ten: fast and reliable.

Surprising pattern: in the 9 times table, the tens digit goes up by 1 each line (0, 1, 2, 3...) while the units digit goes down by 1 (9, 8, 7, 6...). 09, 18, 27, 36, 45...

How to memorise the 9 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.

  1. Learn the finger trick and apply it to every multiplication.
  2. Check each answer with the digit-sum rule (= 9).
  3. Practise the ten-minus-the-number method to lock it in.

Frequently asked questions about the 9 times table

How do you learn the 9 times table on your fingers?

Hold up both hands. For 9×n, fold down the nth finger from the left: the fingers to the left give the tens, those to the right give the units. Example: 9×4, fold the 4th finger, you have 3 and 6 left, so 36.

Why does the digit sum of the 9 times table make 9?

Because 9 = 10 − 1. Every multiple of 9 can be written as a ten minus something, which balances the digits. 9×7 = 63 → 6+3 = 9. It works up to 9×10.

At what age do you learn the 9 times table?

The 9 times table is introduced in Year 4 (age 8-9) in the UK and Grade 3 in the US. Thanks to its many tricks, it is often less hard to master than the 7 or the 8.