Multiplication by 5, step by step

The five times table has the most visible pattern of any table.

The question

8 × 5

8×5
8 × 5=5 × 8
5 × 5=25
5 × 3=15
25+15=40
8×5=40
  1. 8 × 5 means 8 groups with 5 in each one — 8 rows of 5. The answer counts everything in all of them, not one row.
  2. Added up, that is 5 written 8 times — nobody wants to do that. Turn it round: 5 × 8 is the same amount, and it is only 5 lots of 8 to add instead.
  3. If 5 × 8 will not come, split the 8 at five: 5 × 5 = 25, and 5 × 3 = 15. Together that is 25 + 15 = 40.
  4. So 8 × 5 = 40.

How it works.

  1. 01

    8 × 5 means 8 groups with 5 in each one — 8 rows of 5. The answer counts everything in all of them, not one row.

  2. 02

    Added up, that is 5 written 8 times — nobody wants to do that. Turn it round: 5 × 8 is the same amount, and it is only 5 lots of 8 to add instead.

  3. 03

    If 5 × 8 will not come, split the 8 at five: 5 × 5 = 25, and 5 × 3 = 15. Together that is 25 + 15 = 40.

  4. 04

    So 8 × 5 = 40.