7 times table

The 7 times table, the one everybody finds hard

The 7 times table is 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84. It has no pattern as easy as the 2s or 5s, which is why so many children (and parents) remember it as the hardest table. But most of its facts are already known from other tables: 7 × 3 = 3 × 7, 7 × 5 = 5 × 7, and so on. Once the 8 and 9 times tables are known as well, only 7 × 7 = 49 is truly new among the one-digit facts, plus 7 × 11 = 77 and 7 × 12 = 84.

Multiplication by 7 in two small steps

Split the 7 into 5 and 2. Multiplication by 7 then becomes two facts a child already knows: 7 × 8 = 5 × 8 + 2 × 8 = 40 + 16 = 56. 7 × 9 = 45 + 18 = 63. It takes longer at first, but it always works, and after a week of practice the answer jumps straight to mind.

The facts to practice most

7 × 6 = 42, 7 × 7 = 49, 7 × 8 = 56 and 7 × 9 = 63. The "5, 6, 7, 8" line (56 = 7 × 8) is the one trick almost every teacher uses. Mixing up 7 × 8 and 6 × 9 (56 and 54) is the classic slip; the trainer accepts only 56 for 7 × 8, and the 6 and 9 times table pages practice 6 × 9 = 54.

7 times table games, test and worksheet

Start the trainer: 10 questions from the full list of 7 times table facts, keypad, no timer. Every missed fact comes back a few questions later. When the round is all stars, take the speed test, then the 7 times table quiz of 20 questions for the diploma; all of it plays online. The "hard facts" sheet repeats only 7 × 6 to 7 × 9, which is the fastest way to fix them; the regular 7 times table worksheet has all twelve facts, shuffled, with the answer key on page 2.

A tip for parents

A week has 7 days, so "how many days are in 8 weeks?" is the same fact as 7 × 8. Use the calendar on the fridge to ask one question a day. The multiples of 7 also hide in the calendar: 7, 14, 21 and 28 are the Sundays of a month that starts on a Monday.