Table of 3
Flip it
3 × 7 is the same as 7 × 3. Know one, know the other!
Free appThe Times Tables app, version 3.0
Five game modes, XP and streaks, widgets that show your child's progress. Free on iOS for kids in 3rd to 5th grade.
The 3 times table is the first one children have to memorise without an obvious trick like doubling or a fixed ending digit. A couple of clever shortcuts still make it manageable.
| Calculation | Answer |
|---|---|
| 3 × 1 | 3 |
| 3 × 2 | 6 |
| 3 × 3 | 9 |
| 3 × 4 | 12 |
| 3 × 5 | 15 |
| 3 × 6 | 18 |
| 3 × 7 | 21 |
| 3 × 8 | 24 |
| 3 × 9 | 27 |
| 3 × 10 | 30 |
| 3 × 11 | 33 |
| 3 × 12 | 36 |
Digit sum is always 3, 6 or 9
Add the digits of an answer until you have one digit: it is always 3, 6 or 9. 3 × 7 = 21 → 2 + 1 = 3. 3 × 8 = 24 → 2 + 4 = 6. A handy way to check your answer.
Double and add one more
3 × a number equals 2 × that number + the number. 3 × 7 = 2 × 7 + 7 = 14 + 7 = 21. If you know the 2 times table, you have a stepping stone to the 3 times table.
Skip-count by 3
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30. Read this sequence aloud a few times. Many children learn the table faster from the sequence than from isolated facts.
Children typically learn the multiplication tables in Grades 2 and 3 (ages 7–9). The tables of 2, 5 and 10 are taught first, then 3, 4 and 6, and finally the harder tables of 7, 8 and 9. Most children know all tables up to 10 by the end of Grade 3.
What is 3 × 7?+
3 × 7 = 21. Quick check: 2 + 1 = 3, so the digit sum fits the 3 times table.
Is the 3 times table hard?+
Not very. It is harder than 2, 5 and 10, but easier than 7 and 8. With the 'double + add one more' trick it is mastered quickly.
Which tricks work for the 3 times table?+
The digit-sum rule (digits add up to 3, 6 or 9) is a good check. The 'double + 1 more' trick rescues you when you forget an answer. And the skip-counting sequence 3, 6, 9, 12… helps with memorisation.
What grade do children learn the 3 times table?+
The 3 times table is introduced in late Grade 2 or early Grade 3.
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