The Ten Times Table

The 10 times table is the easiest table of all, and children usually learn it in moments. To multiply any whole number by ten, you simply write a zero on the end. This beautifully simple rule flows directly from our base-ten number system, and understanding it deepens a child grasp of place value far beyond multiplication alone.

Tens are everywhere in daily life, from money and measurement to the way we count. Mastering the 10 times table gives children a rock-solid foundation and a reliable shortcut they can use to reason about other tables, such as the nines and elevens, which both sit close to ten.

Patterns in the ten times table

Every answer ends in 0.
The digit in front of the zero is exactly the number you multiplied by.
The answers rise in steps of 10: 10, 20, 30, 40, and so on.
Multiplying by ten shifts every digit one place to the left in our number system.

Handy tricks

Simply add a zero to the end of the number: 10 x 7 = 70.
Say the number, then say "ty" style — ten sixes is sixty.
Use tens to reason about nines (one less) and elevens (one more).
Line up coins or counters in tens to see the pattern grow.

Worked examples

10 x 3 = 30. Add a zero to 3 to get 30.
10 x 6 = 60. Add a zero to 6 to get 60.
10 x 8 = 80. Add a zero to 8 to get 80.
10 x 11 = 110. Add a zero to 11 to get 110.

Where you see it in real life

Counting money in ten-pound or ten-pence units.
Working with measurements in centimetres and millimetres.
Counting objects arranged in tens, such as base-ten blocks.
Estimating totals quickly by rounding to the nearest ten.

Common mistakes to avoid

Adding a zero in the wrong place or to the wrong number.
Confusing multiplying by ten with adding ten.
Forgetting that the rule of adding a zero works only for whole numbers.

Practice questions

10 x 4 = ? (answer: 40)
10 x 7 = ? (answer: 70)
10 x 2 = ? (answer: 20)
10 x 9 = ? (answer: 90)
10 x 5 = ? (answer: 50)
10 x 12 = ? (answer: 120)
10 x 3 = ? (answer: 30)
10 x 8 = ? (answer: 80)
10 x 6 = ? (answer: 60)
10 x 11 = ? (answer: 110)

Frequently asked questions

Why does adding a zero work for the 10 times table?

Because we count in base ten. Multiplying by ten shifts every digit one place to the left, and a zero fills the empty units place.

Is multiplying by ten the same as adding ten?

No. Multiplying by ten makes the number ten times bigger, while adding ten only increases it by ten. For example, 10 x 4 = 40, but 4 + 10 = 14.

How does the 10 times table help with other tables?

Nines are one less than tens and elevens are one more, so knowing tens lets you reason 9 x 6 = 60 - 6 and 11 x 6 = 60 + 6.