Before we learn how to use the finger tricks, assign a number to each one of your fingers. First, hold your hands out in front of you with your palms up. Now number the fingers on each hand from 6 to 10, starting with 6 for your pinky fingers and counting up to 10 for your thumbs. It may help you to stick pieces of tape with the numbers on each finger. Your hands should look like this:
 |
As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.
Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons.
Try it now
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Let's say you're given the problem 6 x 8. What's the answer? You can't remember, and you don't have time to draw six groups of eight stars and count them. Here's what you can do:
On your left hand, bend the finger with a 6 on it because the first factor, or number in the multiplication problem, is a 6. On the right hand, bend the finger with an 8 on it, since it's the second factor in the problem, and bend all of the smaller numbers on your right hand (6 and 7).
 |
Count your bent fingers by tens. Since you have four fingers bent (the 6 on the left hand and the 6, 7, and 8 on the right hand), you'll count the numbers as follows: 10, 20, 30, 40. The first number you need for your answer is 40.
Multiply the number of fingers on each hand that are still upright. On your left hand, you still have four fingers standing. On the right hand, you still have two fingers standing. This gives you 4 x 2 = 8.
 |
Now add the 8 to the 40, which gives you 48.
6 x 8 = 48
Find the answer to 7 x 8.
On your left hand, bend the finger with a 7 on it because the first factor of the problem is a 7. Then bend all of the smaller numbers on your left hand (6). On the right hand, bend the finger with an 8 on it, since it's the second factor in the problem. Finally, bend all of the smaller numbers on your right hand (6 and 7).
Count your bent fingers by ten. Since you have five fingers bent (the 7 and the 6 on the left hand and the 6, 7, and 8 on the right hand), you'll count the numbers as follows: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. So the first number you need to find your answer is 50.
Multiply the number of fingers that are still standing. On your left hand, you still have three fingers standing. On the right hand, you still have two fingers standing. This gives you 3 x 2 = 6.
When you counted your bent fingers by tens, you got 50. When you multiplied the fingers still standing on your left hand by the fingers standing on your right hand, you got 6. Add these together and you get 50 + 6 = 56. So:
7 x 8 = 56
This strategy works perfectly most of the time. But there are some problems where it gets a little more difficult: 6 x 6, 6 x 7, and 7 x 6. It still works, but the addition step is a little more complicated. Let's look at 6 x 6.
On your left hand, bend the finger with a 6 on it. On your right hand, bend the finger with the 6 on it (6 and 6).
Count your bent fingers by tens. Since you have two fingers bent (the 6 on the left hand and the 6 on the right hand), you'll count the numbers as follows: 10, 20. So the first part of your answer is 20. But we're not done yet!
Multiply the number of fingers on each hand that are still upright. On your left hand, you have four fingers standing. On the right hand, you also have four fingers standing. This gives you 4 x 4 = 16. Now add the 16 to the 20, which gives you 36.
6 x 6 = 36
Let's review. If you have trouble memorizing facts, finger tricks can serve as a tool to help you find your product, or answer. Before using the trick, assign a number to each one of your fingers, in order from 6 to 10 on each hand. On your left hand, bend the finger with the first factor, or number in the multiplication problem, and then bend all the fingers with smaller numbers on your left hand. On the right hand, bend the finger with the second factor in the problem, followed by all of the smaller numbers on your right hand.
Then count your bent fingers by ten, which will give you the first number you need to use to find the product. Then, for the second number, multiply the numbers of fingers on each hand that are still standing. Finally, add these two numbers together. This gives you the product.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Already a member? Log In
Back
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
