9 Times Table Finger Trick (9 x 4 Example)

The question, solved step by step

9 x 4 = ?

Hold up all ten fingers in front of you.
For 9 x 4, fold down finger number 4, counting from the left.
Count the fingers to the left of the folded one: 3. That is the tens digit.
Count the fingers to the right: 6. That is the ones digit.
Put them together: 36.
Practice: for 9 x 7, fold down finger 7 to get 6 and 3, so 63.

Answer

9 x 4 = 36

The common mistake

Counting the folded finger as part of the answer. Only count the fingers on each side of it: for 9 x 4 that is 3 on the left and 6 on the right, never 4.

Parent tip

Pair the trick with the pattern in the 9s: the two digits of each answer always add up to 9 (3 + 6 = 9). Ask your child to spot it in 9 x 7 = 63.

Video transcript

0:00Nine times table trick! What's nine times four?

0:04Hold up ten fingers. Fold down finger number four.

0:07Three fingers before it. Six fingers after it.

0:11Thirty-six! Nine times four is thirty-six. Now you try nine times seven!

Questions parents ask

How does the 9 times table finger trick work?

Hold up ten fingers and fold down the finger that matches the number you are multiplying by 9. Fingers to the left of it give the tens digit and fingers to the right give the ones digit. For 9 x 4, that is 3 and 6, so 36.

What is 9 x 7 using the finger trick?

Fold down finger number 7. You have 6 fingers on its left and 3 fingers on its right, so the answer is 63. This is the practice question from the video, and you can check it by adding 6 + 3 = 9.

What is the pattern in the 9 times table?

The digits of every answer from 9 x 1 to 9 x 10 add up to 9. For example 36 gives 3 + 6 = 9 and 63 gives 6 + 3 = 9. The tens digit also goes up by one each time while the ones digit goes down.

Does the finger trick work for 9 x 10?

Yes. Fold down finger number 10. There are 9 fingers on its left and none on its right, so the answer is 90. It works for every whole number from 9 x 1 to 9 x 10.

The 9 times table finger trick