/** * https://gist.github.com/samthor/64b114e4a4f539915a95b91ffd340acc */ (function() { var check = document.createElement('script'); if (!('noModule' in check) && 'onbeforeload' in check) { var = false; document.addEventListener('beforeload', function(e) { if (e.target === check) { = true; } else if (!e.target.hasAttribute('nomodule') || !) { return; } e.preventDefault(); }, true); check.type = 'module'; check.src = '.'; document.head.appendChild(check); check.remove(); } }());

How to multiply in your head

Part of Mathematics and NumeracyMultiplyingYear 4

How to multiply in your head

James looking thoughtfully at a white board with 12 × 4 on it. He has a thought bubble with ? in it.

You can solve a lot of multiplication calculations by working things out in your head.

Knowing your times table facts is a great way to multiply smaller numbers in your head.

However, there are also techniques that make it possible to multiply larger numbers.

Using skills such as multiplying by 10, doubling and partitioning, you can solve many problems without writing anything down.

James looking thoughtfully at a white board with 12 × 4 on it. He has a thought bubble with ? in it.
Back to top

Activity: How to multiply in your head

Complete this interactive activity to better understand how to multiply in your head. Then put your knowledge to the test.

Back to top

Ways to multiply in your head

You can use different methods to multiply a two-digit number by a one-digit number in your head.

Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling.

27 × 2 = 54

You can visualise this using place value counters.

27 × 2, above 2 rows of 9 counters per row. First 2 counters on both rows have the number 10 in them and all the other counters number 1 in them.

You can multiply by 10 by sliding the digits one place to the left on a place value chart.

27 × 10 ‎ =  270

place value showing digits of 27 moving one column to the left to make the number 270

You can also multiply by 5, by halving that figure.

Finding different ways to partition numbers can also help solve multiplication problems with trickier numbers.

27 × 6 = 162

27 partitioned in a part whole model into 20 and 7. Then each part multiplied by 6 to make 120 plus 42 equal 162
Back to top

Example 1

James looking thoughtfully at 89 × 2. He has a thought bubble above his head with ? in it.

Try to solve 89 × 2 in your head.

Back to top

Example 2

James with a thought bubble. In the bubble is 64 × 5.

Try to solve 64 × 5 in your head.

Back to top

Example 3

James with a thought bubble. In the bubble is 23 × 9 =.

Try to solve 23 × 9 in your head.

Back to top

Use your times tables and more maths skills to defeat monsters and reclaim the Kingdom of Mathematica

Play our fun maths game Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica
Back to top

More on Multiplying

Find out more by working through a topic