What is the 9 Times Table Finger Trick?

S1-SA1-0774

Grade Level:

Class 3

Maths, India-specific, Mental Maths

Definition

What is it?

The 9 Times Table Finger Trick is a super easy and fun way to quickly calculate any multiplication of 9, from 9 x 1 to 9 x 10, using just your ten fingers! It's a mental maths shortcut that helps you find the answer without needing to memorise the whole table.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you need to find 9 x 4. Using the trick, you'd put down your 4th finger. The fingers to the left tell you the tens digit, and the fingers to the right tell you the ones digit. So, 3 fingers left (30) and 6 fingers right (6) give you 36!

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find 9 x 7 using the finger trick.

STEP 1: Hold both your hands out in front of you, palms facing you. Your fingers are numbered 1 to 10 from left to right (left pinky is 1, left ring finger is 2, ..., right pinky is 10).
---STEP 2: Since we want to multiply 9 by 7, count to your 7th finger (which is your right index finger).
---STEP 3: Fold down or bend your 7th finger.
---STEP 4: Now, count the fingers to the LEFT of the bent finger. You have 6 fingers to the left (left pinky to right middle finger).
---STEP 5: This number (6) is your tens digit, so that's 60.
---STEP 6: Next, count the fingers to the RIGHT of the bent finger. You have 3 fingers to the right (right ring finger to right pinky).
---STEP 7: This number (3) is your ones digit.
---STEP 8: Combine the tens and ones digits: 60 + 3 = 63. So, 9 x 7 = 63.

Why It Matters

This trick is a fantastic mental maths tool that makes calculations faster and more fun. Learning such tricks improves your number sense and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for careers like a shopkeeper managing inventory, a game developer coding scores, or an engineer calculating measurements.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Counting the bent finger as part of the tens or ones side. | CORRECTION: The bent finger itself is never counted. It just acts as the separator between the tens and ones digits.

MISTAKE: Counting fingers from right to left instead of left to right for the initial finger selection. | CORRECTION: Always number your fingers from 1 to 10 starting with your left pinky as 1 and ending with your right pinky as 10.

MISTAKE: Getting confused when the number of fingers on one side is zero (e.g., 9 x 1 or 9 x 10). | CORRECTION: If there are 0 fingers on the left, the tens digit is 0. If there are 0 fingers on the right, the ones digit is 0.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Use the finger trick to find 9 x 3. | ANSWER: 27

QUESTION: If you bend your 8th finger using the trick, what multiplication problem are you solving and what is the answer? | ANSWER: 9 x 8 = 72

QUESTION: A chaiwala sells 9 cups of chai every hour. If he works for 6 hours, how many cups does he sell? Use the finger trick to find 9 x 6. | ANSWER: 54 cups

MCQ

Quick Quiz

When using the 9 Times Table Finger Trick for 9 x 5, how many fingers will be to the left of the bent finger?

The Correct Answer Is:

For 9 x 5, you bend the 5th finger. There will be 4 fingers to its left (fingers 1, 2, 3, 4), representing the tens digit.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

Imagine you're at a local market, helping a vendor count how many items are left. If each box contains 9 items, and you quickly need to know how many items are in 4 boxes, the 9 times table finger trick helps you calculate 9 x 4 = 36 instantly, without needing a calculator or paper. This speed helps in daily transactions, like calculating change or confirming stock.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

FINGER TRICK: A method using fingers to solve multiplication problems quickly | TENS DIGIT: The digit representing groups of ten in a number | ONES DIGIT: The digit representing single units in a number | MENTAL MATHS: Doing calculations in your head without external aids

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job mastering the 9 times table! Next, you can explore other multiplication tricks, like for the 11 times table or techniques for multiplying larger numbers. These build on your basic multiplication skills and make you even faster at maths!