T

3, 5 and 10 Times Tables

Maths · Y3 Multiply & Divide
Year 3
Lesson Guide
Explanation
The 10s are a gift. 7 × 10 means 7 tens — that's 70. The digit slides one place to the left and a zero fills the ones place. So every answer in the 10 times table ends in 0: 10, 20, 30, 40… all the way to 100. You already know this from place value!
Your Turn
Instant answers: 4 × 10? 8 × 10? 10 × 10? Check: 40, 80, 100.
Watch Out
Say 'the digit slides left', not 'add a zero' — sliding is what really happens, and it will still be true when you meet decimals later.
Explanation
Five is half of ten, so × 5 is × 10 then halve. 6 × 5: six tens is 60, half of 60 is 30. The answers make a beautiful pattern — they end in 5, 0, 5, 0: five, ten, fifteen, twenty… You see this pattern every day on a clock face, where the minutes count in 5s.
Your Turn
Use ten-then-halve: 4 × 5 and 9 × 5. Check: 40 → 20; and 90 → 45.
Watch Out
Halving an odd ten like 90 gives 45 — not scary, just half of 80 plus half of 10.
Explanation
The 3s need a little more work, but they have their own trick: 3 groups = 2 groups + 1 more. So 7 × 3 is double 7 plus one more 7: 14 + 7 = 21. Skip count them until they feel like a song: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30. Secret check: the digits of every 3s answer add up to 3, 6 or 9 — 24 gives 2+4=6!
Your Turn
Double-plus-one-more: 6 × 3 and 9 × 3. Check: 12 + 6 = 18; and 18 + 9 = 27. Digit check: 1+8=9 ✓, 2+7=9 ✓.
Watch Out
Don't mix up the trick: it's double PLUS ONE MORE GROUP, not double-double (that's the 4s!).
Explanation
Word problems tell you which table to use by the size of the group. Tricycles come in 3s (wheels), hands come in 5s (fingers), bus rows come in 10s (seats). Four tricycles? That's 4 groups of 3 wheels: 4 × 3 = 12. Spot the group size, count the groups, and the right table picks itself.
Your Turn
Six 5-cent coins — how much money? And 9 rows of 10 chairs? Check: 6 × 5 = 30 cents; 9 × 10 = 90 chairs.
Watch Out
Read carefully which number is the GROUP SIZE and which is HOW MANY groups. (The answer is the same either way, but the story matters.)
Explanation
Look at your toolkit now: ×2 is double, ×4 is double-double, ×8 is triple-double, ×10 slides the digit, ×5 is ten-then-halve, and ×3 is double-plus-one-more. Every table has a strategy — nothing is pure memory. Practise a few facts each day and watch them turn into instant answers. Quiz time!
Your Turn
Mixed challenge: 7 × 5, 6 × 3, 9 × 10, 8 × 4, 3 × 8. Check: 35, 18, 90, 32, 24.
Watch Out
When tables mix, pause one second to spot WHICH table it is before your fingers start moving.
Step 1: Introduction
Step 1 of 5
× 10: the digits slide left 7 × 10 = 70 3 × 10 = 30 9 × 10 = 90 10 × 10 = 100 7 ones become 7 tens — the 7 slides one place left, and a 0 fills the empty ones place. Every ×10 answer ends in 0. Skip count: 10, 20, 30, 40…
× 5 = × 10, then halve 6 × 5: 6 × 10 = 60, half of 60 = 30 8 × 5: 80 → half → 40 The 5s pattern: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 Answers end in 5, 0, 5, 0, 5, 0 … Odd number × 5 ends in 5 · even number × 5 ends in 0 Think of a clock: the minute numbers go up in 5s!
The 3s: double + one more 7 × 3 = 7 × 2 + 7 = 14 + 7 = 21 8 × 3 = 16 + 8 = 24 Skip count the 3s: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30 3 groups = 2 groups + 1 more group — so double, then add one more. Fun check: the digits of every answer add to 3, 6 or 9! 24 → 2 + 4 = 6 ✓ · 27 → 2 + 7 = 9 ✓
Real things come in 3s, 5s and 10s 🛺 tricycles have 3 wheels 4 trikes → 4 × 3 = 12 🖐 hands have 5 fingers 6 hands → 6 × 5 = 30 🚌 rows of 10 seats 7 rows → 7 × 10 = 70 💰 5c coins in a piggy bank 8 coins → 8 × 5 = 40c Spot the group size, count the groups, multiply.
Your table toolkit so far × 2 double × 4 double double × 8 double ×3 × 10 slide left, add 0 × 5 ×10 then halve × 3 double + one more
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