Grade by Grade
B. Number · Operations: Adding and Subtracting to 1000, Multiplying and Dividing

Multiplication and Division Facts of 2, 5 and 10

B2.2 B2.1About 35 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can quickly say the multiplication facts of 2, 5 and 10.
  • I can use patterns to remember these facts.
  • I can use a multiplication fact to find a related division fact.
  • I can use these facts with money and in everyday problems.

Words to know

fact
A number sentence you know right away, without counting, like 5 × 4 = 20.
multiple
The product of a number and a whole number. Multiples of 5 are 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and so on.
double
Two groups of the same number. Doubling is the same as multiplying by 2.
half
One of two equal parts. Half of 10 is 5.
related facts
Multiplication and division facts that use the same three numbers.

Remember from Grade 2

You already know how to count by 2s, 5s and 10s: 2, 4, 6, 8... 5, 10, 15, 20... 10, 20, 30... You also know doubles like 7 + 7 = 14. These are the secret to learning your first multiplication facts!

Why learn facts by heart?

Counting by 5s eight times takes a while. If you just know that 5 × 8 = 40, you can solve bigger problems much faster. In Grade 3 you learn the facts of 2, 5 and 10 so well that you can say them right away, and you use them to divide.

Number× 2× 5× 10
0000
12510
241020
361530
482040
5102550
6123060
7143570
8164080
9184590
102050100
The facts of 2, 5 and 10. Read across: 3 × 2 = 6, 3 × 5 = 15, 3 × 10 = 30.

Patterns in the 2 facts

  • Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling: 2 × 7 = 7 + 7 = 14.
  • Every product is an even number. The ones digit is always 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8.
  • Pairs of things show the 2 facts: socks, mittens, shoes, bicycle wheels.

Patterns in the 10 facts

  • Multiplying by 10 makes tens: 4 × 10 is 4 tens, which is 40.
  • Every product has a 0 in the ones place.
  • Dimes show the 10 facts: 6 dimes is 6 × 10 = 60¢.

Patterns in the 5 facts

  • Every product ends in 0 or 5.
  • They go 0 then 5 then 0 then 5 in the ones place: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25...
  • A 5 fact is half of a 10 fact: 10 × 6 = 60, so 5 × 6 is half of 60, which is 30.
  • Nickels, fingers on a hand and minutes on a clock (5, 10, 15...) show the 5 facts.
1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950ends in 5ends in 0 (the 10 facts, and 5 facts too)
A number chart from 1 to 50. The 5 facts land in just two columns: the numbers ending in 5 and the numbers ending in 0. The 10 facts are the last column.
🖐️🖐️🖐️🖐️
4 hands with 5 fingers each. 4 × 5 = 20 fingers.
Worked example

Example 1: Use a pattern

What is 5 × 8?

  1. Use the 10 fact: 10 × 8 = 80.
  2. 5 is half of 10, so 5 × 8 is half of 80.
  3. Half of 80 is 40.

5 × 8 = 40. Check: the product ends in 0. That fits the 5 pattern.

Worked example

Example 2: Doubles

Socks come in pairs. How many socks are in 9 pairs?

  1. 9 pairs means 9 groups of 2: 9 × 2.
  2. Multiplying by 2 is doubling: 9 + 9 = 18.

18 socks

Division facts come for free!

Every multiplication fact gives you two division facts.

If you know 5 × 7 = 35, you also know:

  • 35 ÷ 5 = 7
  • 35 ÷ 7 = 5

To divide by 2, 5 or 10, ask yourself: "What times 2 (or 5 or 10) makes this number?"

Worked example

Example 3: Divide using a fact

Solve 60 ÷ 10.

  1. Ask: "10 times what makes 60?"
  2. 60 is 6 tens. So 10 × 6 = 60.

60 ÷ 10 = 6

Worked example

Example 4: Money

How many nickels make 45¢? (A nickel is worth 5¢.)

  1. We need: 5 times what makes 45? That is 45 ÷ 5.
  2. Count by 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45. That is 9.
  3. So 5 × 9 = 45.

9 nickels make 45¢. 45 ÷ 5 = 9.

Multiplication factDivision facts
2 × 6 = 1212 ÷ 2 = 6, 12 ÷ 6 = 2
5 × 4 = 2020 ÷ 5 = 4, 20 ÷ 4 = 5
10 × 3 = 3030 ÷ 10 = 3, 30 ÷ 3 = 10
5 × 9 = 4545 ÷ 5 = 9, 45 ÷ 9 = 5
Each multiplication fact has two related division facts.

How to practise facts

  • Practise a few minutes every day instead of a long time once a week.
  • Say the whole fact out loud: "5 times 6 is 30."
  • Start with the facts you know (× 10, × 2), then the 5s.
  • If you forget, use a pattern or a fact you know. Don't guess!
Just for fun

Funny but true: you have 10 fingers and 10 toes, so 2 × 10 = 20. Most cats have 18 toes: 5 on each front paw and 4 on each back paw. Try 5 + 5 + 4 + 4!

Hands-on activity

Fact flip game

You need: 33 small cards or squares of paper, and a pencil.

  1. Make a card for each fact: 0 × 2 to 10 × 2, 0 × 5 to 10 × 5, and 0 × 10 to 10 × 10. Write the fact on the front and the product on the back.
  2. Shuffle the cards. Flip one and say the product. Turn it over to check.
  3. If you got it right quickly, put it in a "know it" pile. If not, put it in a "practising" pile.
  4. Play again with only the "practising" pile until it's empty.
  5. Division round: look at the back (the product), say a division fact that goes with it. For 35: "35 ÷ 5 = 7."

Math talk: "Which pattern helped you remember the 5s?"

Your turn

1

2 × 8 = ?

2

5 × 6 = ?

3

10 × 9 = ?

4

14 ÷ 2 = ?

5

45 ÷ 5 = ?

6

80 ÷ 10 = ?

7

5 × 7 = ?

More practice: warm-up

1

2 × 4 = ?

2

5 × 2 = ?

3

10 × 3 = ?

4

10 ÷ 5 = ?

5

2 × 10 = ?

More practice: on your own

1

How many fingers are on 7 hands?

2

How much are 9 nickels worth?

3

Ben has 18 mittens. How many pairs is that?

4

How many dimes make 60¢?

5

Use a 10 fact to find 5 × 9.

Challenge

1

5 × 8 and 10 × 4 have the same product. Why?

2

Count by 2s and by 5s up to 50. Which numbers do you say both times?

3

I am a product in the 2 facts, the 5 facts and the 10 facts. I am between 15 and 25. What number am I?

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

What is 5 × 6?

2.

What is 2 × 9?

3.

What is 10 × 7?

4.

What is 40 ÷ 5?

5.

What is 16 ÷ 2?

6.

Which number is a product in the 5 facts?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: By the end of Grade 3, the Ontario curriculum (B2.2) expects children to recall the multiplication facts of 2, 5 and 10 and the related division facts. "Recall" means knowing them quickly, but understanding comes first: patterns (doubles, halves of 10s, ending in 0 or 5) make facts easier to remember.

Common difficulties:

  • Confusing × and + (5 × 6 = 11). Ask your child to say "5 groups of 6".
  • Skip counting from the start every time. That's fine at first; move toward using a known fact ("10 × 6 is 60, so 5 × 6 is half").
  • Division facts. Practise them alongside multiplication: "5 times what is 35?"

How to help: Short daily practice works best (3 to 5 minutes). Use coins (nickels and dimes), pairs of socks, and hands. Avoid timed pressure if it causes stress; accuracy first, then speed.