Before you begin, assign numbers to each of your fingers.
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You might want to write the numbers on your fingers, like the example shows.
Let's say you are given the problem 6 x 8. What is it? You can't remember, and you don't have time to draw six groups of eight stars and count them. Here is what you can do:
Step 1
On the left hand, bend down the finger with a 6 on it because the first factor, or number in our multiplication problem, is a 6. On the right hand, bend down the finger with an 8 on it, since it is the second factor in our problem, AND also bend down all smaller numbers on your right hand (6 and 7).
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Step 2
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 will count 10, 20, 30, 40.
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This tells you that your answer is 40 something. Easy, right?
Step 3
The fingers that are still up will be used in a simple multiplication problem. On your left hand, you still have four fingers standing. On the right hand, you still have two fingers standing. So you will take 4 x 2 to get 8.
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This tells you that 8 is the second digit in your answer. You already figured out the first part, 40, so we'll just add the 8 in the ones place to get 48. So the answer to 6 x 8 is 48!
Find the answer to 7 x 8.
Step 1
On the left hand, bend down the finger with a 7 on it because the first factor of the problem is a 7, AND then bend down all the smaller numbers on your left hand (6). On the right hand, bend down the finger with an 8 on it since it is the second factor in your problem, AND bend down all the smaller numbers on your right hand too (6 and 7).
Step 2
Count your bent fingers by tens. 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 will count 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. This tells you that your answer is 50 something.
Step 3
The fingers that are still up will be used in a simpler multiplication problem. Remember? On your left hand, you still have three fingers standing. On the right hand, you still have two fingers standing. So you will take 3 x 2 to get 6, which is the number in the ones place of your answer.
Answer: When you counted your bent fingers by tens, you got 50. When you multiplied the fingers standing on your left hand by the fingers standing on your right hand, you got 6. Your answer, or product is 56.
This strategy works perfectly most of the time. But, there are three exceptions where this trick doesn't make things easy: 6 x 6, 6 x 7, and 7 x 6. So, it might be better to leave these three to memorization: 6 x 6 = 36, 6 x 7 = 42, and 7 x 6 = 42
Understanding multiplication is important, but sometimes, memorizing multiplication facts is necessary to work at a faster pace. If you have trouble memorizing facts, finger tricks can serve as a tool to help you find your product, or answer!
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3rd-5th Grade Math: Practice & Review37 chapters | 252 lessons
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