Times Tables 4U

Four Step
Programme
Improve Your Times Tables Skills Now

Student Workbook

With Alan Young

Index
Introduction .4
LEVEL 1
Assessment Table Square 6
Record of Times for Table Squares ...7
Tables Practice Squares (1, 2, 5 and 10) 8
Times Tables Triangles .......16
LEVEL 2
Assessment Table Square .22
Record of Times for Table Squares ....23
Tables Practice Squares (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10)....24
Times Table Triangles .....40
LEVEL 3
Assessment Table Square .50
Record of Times for Table Squares ....51
Tables Practice Squares (all tables up to 10 x 10) ..52
Times Table Triangles ......76

/Contd

ACTIVITIES
1. Missing Numbers in Times Tables ..87
2. Multiplication Sums .90
3. Money Sums ...95
4. Cross Figures ..99
5. Times Tables and Factors (1)...101
6. Times Tables and Fractions ..106
7. Digital Roots ..112
8. Prime Numbers (1) .113
9. Times Tables and Powers ..116
10. Square Numbers (1) 117
11. Divisibility Tests .119
12. Repunit Numbers ..122
13. Square Numbers (2) 123
14. Digit Squaring .125
15. Triangle Numbers .127
16. Times Tables and Factors (2) ...130
17. Prime Numbers (2) ..136

Introduction
Welcome to the Times Tables 4U Four Step Programme to mastering your
multiplication tables.
There are three levels at which you can begin depending on your age and
which tables you already know.
If you feel embarrassed in class because you do not know your tables as well
as you should, or if you find it difficult to do the mathematics work your
teachers give you because this lack of knowledge makes it difficult for you to
tackle problems, then spend some time working the Four Step Programme
and before you know it, you will have a much better knowledge of tables and
you will be able to recall them much better when tackling your school work.
There is a Parents Handbook that accompanies this workbook and your
parents will explain how to tackle the work in the right order to give you
back your confidence and enable you to enjoy maths lessons.
I have taught a great many students from the very youngest to those taking
their GCSE examinations at 16 years old and far too many of them have
problems with tables which hold them up time and time again.
Its a bit like learning to ride a bike once you can ride one you never forget
how to. And once you have learnt your tables really well you will always
know them and that will make your maths work so much easier.
Once you have learnt all ten tables really well, you will find a number of
activities at the end of this workbook you can tackle. These are all based
around tables work and so you should not be using a calculator to tackle
them except where the instructions say you can, but they will also help you
with the work you are tackling at school at the moment or work you will
cover in the future, so have a go at as many of them as you can manage.
I have to say that some are pretty hairy and if you are quite young you may
need some help from a parent, especially with the reading, but dont let that
put you off.
In just a few months time, you could be top of the class!

Blank Page

LEVEL 1
Assessment Table Square

2
7
1
6
10
4
8
9
3
5

10

No

Time

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Record of Times for Table Squares

No. 1

9
3
10
2
8
4
7
1
6
5

No. 3

3
9
2
8
7
1
10
6
4
5

Time:
2
1

Time:
5
10

No. 2

10

7
2
1
6
8
3
9
10
4
5

No. 4

2
10
9
3
1
7
6
4
8
5

Time:
1
10

Time:
5
2

10

No. 5

10
4
10
3
7
2
5
8
6
9
1

No. 7

8
7
2
6
1
9
5
10
3
4

Time:
1
5

Time:
10
1

No. 6

2
7
6
1
5
4
8
9
3
10

No. 8

5
3
2
7
10
6
1
9
4
8

Time:
2
10

Time:
2
10

No. 9

1
9
4
3
2
10
8
6
7
5

Time:
5
2

No. 10 Time:

10

10
3
2
7
10
8
1
6
9
4
5

No. 11 Time:

5
1
4
10
9
2
6
3
7
8

No. 12 Time:

10

10
8
4
3
7
9
2
5
6
1
10

10

No. 13 Time:

5
10
1
4
3
8
9
6
2
7

No. 14 Time:

10

10
3
10
2
9
8
1
5
6
4
7

No. 15 Time:

10
2
9
1
5
8
3
4
6
7

10

No. 16 Time:

10

2
7
9
1
8
3
5
4
6
10

11

No. 17 Time:

10
1
5
10
6
2
9
4
7
3
8

No. 18 Time:

10
4
9
3
1
6
7
2
5
8

No. 19 Time:

8
3
2
9
4
5
7
1
10
6

10

10

No. 20 Time:

7
1
4
6
2
10
3
8
5
9

12

10

No. 21 Time:

7
2
8
6
1
9
3
10
4
5

No. 22 Time:

10

10
4
3
8
2
9
5
6
7
1

No. 23 Time:

10
7
8
2
10
3
1
9
4
5
6

10

10

No. 24 Time:

4
1
10
9
2
7
3
5
6
8

13

No. 25 Time:

3
2
9
1
8
7
4
5
10
6

No. 26 Time:

10

6
7
5
1
4
2
8
9
3
10

No. 27 Time:

8
2
7
9
1
3
6
4
5
10

10

10

No. 28 Time:

9
3
10
2
4
8
1
7
5
6

14

10

No. 29 Time:

7
2
6
3
4
8
1
5
9
10

No. 30 Time:

10

5
2
10
1
6
3
9
4
7
8

No. 31 Time:

10
7
2
6
1
10
8
3
4
5
9

10

10

No. 32 Time:

10
2
1
9
5
6
3
7
4
8

15

Times Table Triangles

The top number in each triangle is the bottom two numbers
multiplied together. Fill in the empty circles.

16

35

14

5
45

50

10

10
70

10

18

7
45

80

70

7
18

15

35

10

7
16

18

10

8
40

20

14

2
60

16

12

10

2
70

30

50

10

10

12

70

16

45

50

10

17

50

45

16

2
35

20

18

9
20

45

25

10
35

16

30

8
40

70

10

18

40

15

80

10
18

50

5
18

60

6
16

2
16

70

18

90

20

19

100

10

2
16

12

20

10
20

18

40

50

30

18

2
60

15

10

20

20

10

20

15

12

6
40

9
4

5
10

10

30

70

10

10

3
90

10

10

21

LEVEL 2
Assessment Table Square

10

2
7
1
6
10
3
8
4
5
9

22

No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Time

No
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64

Time

Record of Times for Table Squares

23

No. 1 Time:
3 6 2 1 4
3
10
2
5
6
1
8
4
9
7

No. 3 Time:
1 10 4 5 2
3
9
2
8
7
1
10
6
4
5

No. 2 Time:
6 1 5 2 4 10 3
3
9
8
2
7
10
1
5
4
6

5 10

No. 4 Time:
10 3 1 6 2
2
10
9
3
1
7
6
4
8
5

24

No. 5 Time:
4 10 3 6 2
8
7
2
6
1
9
5
10
3
4

No. 6 Time:
2 6 1 3 10 4
5
3
2
7
10
6
1
9
4
8

No. 7 Time:
4 1 6 3 5 10 2
2
7
6
1
5
4
8
9
3
10

No. 8 Time:
1 10 2 6 3
4
10
3
7
2
5
8
6
9
1

25

No. 9 Time:
6 4 1 5 3 10 2
4
9
8
3
5
7
2
6
10
1

No. 10 Time:
5 1 4 2 6
5
4
10
3
6
1
7
8
9
2

No. 11 Time:
3 6 4 2 10 5
4
10
3
7
5
2
6
9
1
8

No. 12 Time:
1 6 2 10 3
9
3
2
8
7
6
1
10
4
5

26

3 10

No. 13 Time:
1 5 2 10 3
10
9
5
7
3
6
4
2
8
1

No. 15 Time:
4 3 10 2 1
3
1
7
2
6
10
4
5
8
9

No. 14 Time:
3 1 4 10 2
9
3
10
2
5
8
1
7
4
6

No. 16 Time:
10 4 1 5 2
4
9
10
3
5
8
2
7
1
6

27

No. 17 Time:
6 5 4 10 1
8
3
2
7
9
4
1
10
6
5

No. 19 Time:
5 6 1 10 2
2
7
10
1
8
3
9
4
5
6

No. 18 Time:
4 1 5 6 2
3
4
10
9
2
8
5
1
7
6

No. 20 Time:
1 3 10 4 2
2
9
10
5
1
6
8
7
4
3

28

3 10

No. 21 Time:
3 2 6 10 1
3
10
4
1
9
7
2
6
8
5

No. 23 Time:
5 4 2 6 10 1
4
2
5
10
6
9
3
7
1
8

No. 22 Time:
10 5 2 3 6
9
2
10
8
1
7
3
5
6
4

No. 24 Time:
4 6 1 2 5
2
7
9
6
8
1
3
10
4
5

29

3 10

No. 25 Time:
6 3 10 2 4
1
5
7
10
6
3
8
9
4
2

No. 27 Time:
6 3 5 1 2
10
6
2
1
7
3
9
4
5
8

No. 26 Time:
3 1 6 2 4
8
2
6
9
5
1
3
7
10
4

No. 28 Time:
6 3 1 10 4
2
10
6
3
4
5
8
1
7
9

4 10

30

5 10

No. 29 Time:
2 10 1 3 6
9
4
10
3
2
8
5
1
7
6

No. 31 Time:
2 6 3 1 4
2
6
10
1
9
3
5
4
8
7

No. 30 Time:
4 3 5 2 10 1
2
9
3
8
1
7
4
5
10
6

No. 32 Time:
1 5 2 10 3
2
9
6
7
1
8
3
4
10
5

5 10

31

No. 33 Time:
5 4 6 2 3 10 1
7
6
2
3
8
1
9
10
4
5

No. 34 Time:
5 2 1 6 10 4
2
9
8
1
3
6
4
7
5
10

No. 35 Time:
2 10 1 5 3
9
3
2
8
7
10
4
1
6
5

No. 36 Time:
2 6 1 3 10 4
3
10
2
4
8
1
5
6
7
9

32

No. 37 Time:
2 1 10 3 6
6
1
5
10
2
4
7
8
3
9

No. 39 Time:
10 4 3 5 6
4
1
9
8
2
3
7
5
10
6

No. 38 Time:
3 1 10 2 4
6
1
7
2
5
3
8
9
4
10

No. 40 Time:
6 2 10 1 3
3
5
2
10
4
8
6
1
7
9

33

No. 41 Time:
1 10 3 2 6
8
7
1
3
6
9
2
10
4
5

No. 43 Time:
5 4 6 2 10 1
2
7
6
10
8
1
4
9
3
5

No. 42 Time:
5 1 4 6 2
3
2
10
9
1
8
4
5
6
7

No. 44 Time:
1 5 2 10 3
4
5
9
2
6
7
1
10
8
3

34

3 10

No. 45 Time:
4 10 3 5 1
9
2
8
4
1
10
3
5
7
6

No. 47 Time:
3 6 4 2 10 5
8
2
9
7
1
4
10
3
5
6

No. 46 Time:
10 1 3 4 6
10
6
9
3
8
7
1
4
2
5

No. 48 Time:
3 2 4 10 5
3
10
9
2
4
8
1
5
7
6

35

No. 49 Time:
4 3 6 2 5 10 1
4
3
9
2
8
1
7
5
10
6

No. 50 Time:
1 4 3 6 2
8
7
1
6
3
9
2
10
4
5

No. 51 Time:
3 10 5 2 6
8
2
9
4
1
7
3
10
5
6

No. 52 Time:
3 1 6 2 4
2
9
1
6
10
3
7
4
8
5

36

5 10

5 10

No. 53 Time:
5 4 2 6 1
3
9
2
6
8
5
1
7
10
4

No. 55 Time:
6 3 10 2 4
4
2
7
5
6
8
3
10
1
9

No. 54 Time:
5 1 4 10 2
2
10
1
9
4
8
3
7
6
5

3 10

No. 56 Time:
1 3 10 2 6
3
2
6
10
1
4
9
5
7
8

37

No. 57 Time:
6 2 5 1 3 10 4
2
6
5
1
4
10
9
7
3
8

No. 58 Time:
2 10 1 6 4
6
3
2
9
10
8
4
7
5
1

No. 59 Time:
4 2 1 10 3
1
8
6
3
5
9
2
4
10
7

No. 60 Time:
3 2 10 6 1
10
9
3
1
8
6
2
7
4
5

38

No. 61 Time:
6 2 5 1 3 10 4
6
1
9
7
2
4
8
10
3
5

No. 62 Time:
10 5 1 4 2
3
2
1
8
9
4
10
5
7
6

No. 63 Time:
3 10 2 4 1
10
3
2
9
1
5
8
4
6
7

No. 64 Time:
1 4 5 2 6
6
10
5
1
4
7
3
8
9
2

39

3 10

Times Table Triangles

The top number in each triangle is the bottom two numbers
multiplied together. Fill in the empty circles.

48

24

32

54

27

40

49

10

35

28

27

20

30

60

54

9
40

20

30

20

5
40

80

54

36

18

27

24

80

10

36

40

25

90

41

25

36

42

7
48

9
60

27

24

10

3
14

42

30

2
16

6
48

50

42

25

42

36

6
32

100

45

54

10
24

35

7
20

60

32

5
28

21

6
12

43

10

3
36

3
27

42

36

3
24

45

4
20

32

8
40

27

24

50

54

60

10

44

10

25

20

36

48

42

20

21

30

32

28

90

7
16

16

10

45

30

32

40

6
14

4
45

21

7
12

48

30

28

80

20

21

36

60

10

7
46

18

5
50

100

28

10

40

10
70

42

10

7
28

48

54

30

40

35

40

8
25

47

30

50

35

80

10

10
27

14

42

21

35

24

35

40

36

90

48

48

24

42

30

6
35

27

21

48

35

42

24

45

90

3
27

28

20

49

LEVEL 3
Assessment Table Square

10

3
6
10
5
8
4
9
7
1
2

50

No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Time

No
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64

Time

No
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96

Time

Record of Times for Table Squares

51

No. 1

Time:
9

10

No. 2
6

10

10

No. 3

Time:
6

10

Time:
1

No. 4
8

10

10

10

52

Time:
7

10

No. 5

10

Time:
7

No. 6
6

10

10

No. 7

Time:
1

Time:
1

No. 8
7

10

10

10

53

10

Time:
1

10

No. 9

Time:
1

No. 10

10

10

10

No. 11

Time:
3

Time:
7

No. 12
8

10

10

10

54

10

Time:
7

10

No. 13

10

Time:
3

No. 14
1

10

10

No. 15

10

Time:
2

Time:
4

No. 16
6

10

10

55

10

Time:
4

10

No. 17

Time:
9

No. 18
4

10

10

10

No. 19

Time:
8

Time:
6

10

No. 20
7

10

10

10

56

10

Time:
2

No. 21

Time:
10

No. 22
4

10

10

No. 23

10

Time:
9

Time:
1

No. 24
5

10

10

57

10

10

Time:
8

No. 25

Time:
10

No. 26
4

10

10

No. 27

10

Time:
4

10

Time:
4

No. 28
1

10

10

58

10

Time:
1

No. 29

Time:
9

No. 30
7

10

10

10

No. 31

10

Time:
8

10

Time:
5

No. 32
1

10

10

59

Time:
7

10

No. 33

Time:
4

No. 34

10

10

10

No. 35

Time:
10

Time:
4

No. 36
4

10

10

60

10

Time:
10

No. 37

Time:
5

No. 38
8

10

10

10

No. 39

Time:
10

10

Time:
5

No. 40
3

10

10

61

Time:
10

No. 41

10

Time:
7

No. 42
6

10

10

No. 43

10

Time:
4

Time:
4

No. 44
5

10

10

62

10

10

Time:
9

No. 45

Time:
2

No. 46
5

10

10

10

No. 47

10

Time:
3

10

Time:
5

No. 48
2

10

10

63

10

Time:
3

No. 49

Time:
8

No. 50
7

10

10

10

No. 51

Time:
10

10

Time:
2

No. 52
7

10

10

64

10

Time:
9

No. 53

Time:
10

No. 54
9

10

10

No. 55

Time:
10

10

Time:
7

No. 56
6

10

10

65

10

Time:
2

No. 57

10

Time:
3

No. 58
2

10

10

No. 59

10

Time:
7

10

Time:
9

No. 60
1

10

10

66

Time:
7

10

No. 61

10

Time:
2

No. 62
6

10

10

No. 63

Time:
5

Time:
9

No. 64
8

10

10

10

67

10

Time:
6

10

No. 65

Time:
3

No. 66
8

10

10

10

No. 67

Time:
3

10

Time:
3

No. 68
4

10

10

68

10

Time:
2

10

No. 69

10

Time:
3

No. 70
1

10

10

No. 71

Time:
8

Time:
8

No. 72
7

10

10

10

69

10

Time:
10

No. 73

10

Time:
3

No. 74
5

10

10

No. 75

Time:
3

Time:
7

No. 76
2

10

10

10

70

10

10

Time:
2

No. 77

Time:
5

No. 78
9

10

10

10

No. 79

10

Time:
9

Time:
10

No. 80
6

10

10

71

10

Time:
2

No. 81

10

Time:
4

No. 82
3

10

10

No. 83

10

Time:
3

Time:
6

No. 84
2

10

10

72

10

10

Time:
7

No. 85

Time:
3

No. 86
9

10

10

10

No. 87

10

Time:
5

Time:
6

10

No. 88
2

10

10

73

10

Time:
1

No. 89

10

Time:
8

No. 90
1

10

10

No. 91

10

Time:
4

Time:
5

10

No. 92
6

10

10

74

10

Time:
3

No. 93

10

Time:
4

No. 94
5

10

10

No. 95

10

Time:
8

Time:
7

No. 96
1

10

10

75

10

10

Time:
5

Times Table Triangles

The top number in each triangle is the bottom two numbers
multiplied together. Fill in the empty circles.

56

63

48

36

15

12

35

81

45

80

24

64

10

8
40

28

21

7
76

27

54

48

8
70

72

48

10

6
81

32

90

9
63

49

56

8
28

72

60

10

77

27

40

35

3
70

8
72

36

40

28

16

4
56

7
27

24

8
30

49

9
60

10

78

54

16

3
50

42

36

5
32

7
72

48

8
80

48

40

10

36

30

56

79

24

4
48

54

35

7
28

18

42

6
21

36

49

7
20

27

32

21

16

80

18

40

72

56

8
49

9
63

35

7
28

48

64

4
24

25

16

60

90

10

81

42

48

72

63

56

49

64

8
24

45

16

36

40

32

9
42

40

10

82

27

3
48

40

32

8
70

64

49

42

54

63

9
45

54

36

80

40

10

83

16

56

30

40

8
35

32

48

54

90

9
24

35

40

18

40

40

84

32

8
45

7
40

56

10

24

30

63

24

56

40

72

42

18

28

20

85

Activities Using Multiplication Facts

On the next pages you will find a number of activities you can try to practise
your multiplication tables skills. I must warn you that some of them are quite
easy and some towards the end are very difficult, so you should choose the
ones that you think you will be able to tackle without tying your brain up in
knots.

86

Activity 1: Missing Numbers in Times Tables

TEST 1
1. 2 x ___ = 6

2. 7 x ___ = 21

3. 9 x ___ = 45

4. ___ x 6 = 36

5. 8 x ___ = 56

6. ___ x 4 = 28

7. ___ x 5 = 50

8. 9 x ___ = 81

9. 10 x ___ = 60

10. 9 x ___ = 36

11. 8 x ___ = 32

12. ___ x ___ = 21

13. 7 x ___ = 49

14. 4 x ___ = 4

15. ___ x 8 = 32

16. 9 x ___ = 63

17. 8 x ___ = 24

18. ___ x 2 = 20

TEST 2
1. 7 x ___ = 42

2. 3 x ___ = 27

3. 8 x ___ = 40

4. ___ x 7 = 28

5. 9 x ___ = 72

6. ___ x 5 = 35

7. ___ x 8 = 32

8. 10 x ___ = 90

9. 7 x ___ = 63

10. 4 x ___ = 28

11. 7 x ___ = 42

12. 9 x ___ = 72

13. 6 x ___ = 54

14. 7 x ___ = 56

15. ___ x 6 = 24

16. 8 x ___ = 64

17. 9 x ___ = 63

18. ___ x 6 = 54

87

TEST 3
1. 4 x ___ = 24

2. 8 x ___ = 32

3. 7 x ___ = 49

4. ___ x 8 = 48

5. 7 x ___ = 63

6. ___ x 5 = 45

7. ___ x 8 = 64

8. 8 x ___ = 16

9. 4 x ___ = 28

10. 7 x ___ = 28

11. 6 x ___ = 36

12. 7 x ___ = 21

13. 9 x ___ = 81

14. 5 x ___ = 45

15. ___ x 7 = 49

16. 8 x ___ = 40

17. 9 x ___ = 54

18. ___ x 3 = 27

TEST 4
1. 7 x ___ = 42

2. 8 x ___ = 24

3. 2 x ___ = 20

4. ___ x 5 = 35

5. 9 x ___ = 45

6. ___ x 3 = 27

7. ___ x 7 = 49

8. 3 x ___ = 24

9. 6 x ___ = 36

10. 8 x ___ = 40

11. 7 x ___ = 14

12. 8 x ___ = 8

13. 6 x ___ = 48

14. 5 x ___ = 25

15. ___ x 9 = 36

16. 6 x ___ = 54

17. 7 x ___ = 28

18. ___ x 3 = 30

88

TEST 5
1. 3 x ___ = 9

2. 6 x ___ = 24

3. 8 x ___ = 48

4. ___ x 5 = 25

5. 1 x ___ = 9

6. ___ x 5 = 35

7. ___ x 6 = 60

8. 8 x ___ = 72

9. 4 x ___ = 36

10. 8 x ___ = 40

11. 6 x ___ = 30

12. ___ x 3 = 21

13. 8 x ___ = 32

14. 5 x ___ = 45

15. ___ x 6 = 54

16. 7 x ___ = 63

17. 5 x ___ = 35

18. ___ x 9 = 90

TEST 6
1. 4 x ___ = 36

2. 8 x ___ = 24

3. 7 x ___ = 63

4. ___ x 7 = 49

5. 6 x ___ = 36

6. ___ x 5 = 35

7. ___ x 9 = 45

8. 8 x ___ = 80

9. 10 x ___ = 100

10. 6 x ___ = 54

11. 2 x ___ = 14

12. 5 x ___ = 25

13. 8 x ___ = 64

14. 3 x ___ = 9

15. ___ x 5 = 35

16. 4 x ___ = 32

17. 5 x ___ = 25

18. ___ x 7 = 14

89

Activity 2: Multiplication Sums

First of all you can warm up by just multiplying by one digit:

1. 27
4

2. 17
6

3. 39
3

4. 15
9

5. 45
8

6. 44
2

7. 63
5

8. 71
8

9. 97
7

10. 30
3

11. 43
6

12. 48
4

13. 96
1

14. 17
7

15. 52
9

16. 98
2

17. 54
5

18. 19
7

19. 91
4

20. 69
6

21. 51
8

22. 38
8

23. 28
2

24. 20
3

25. 15
5

90

Now try multiplying by two digit numbers. Dont forget to put the zero in
where necessary.

26. 45
63

27. 23
54

28. 48
84

29. 37
27

30. 26
48

31. 82
63

32. 43
32

33. 23
23

34. 63
75

35. 82
33

36. 36
13

37. 35
37

38. 74
43

39. 24
37

40. 53
82

41. 37
53

42. 73
22

43. 25
53

44. 52
66

45. 73
73

91

46. 63
35

47. 44
57

48. 63
38

49. 28
40

50. 43
45

51. 214
17

52. 362
61

53. 439
20

54. 114
43

55. 561
23

56. 253
22

57. 788
34

58. 630
65

59. 110
48

60. 532
25

61 739
52

62. 479
53

63. 241
66

64. 250
83

65. 543
25

92

66 183
49

67. 346
14

68. 624
50

69. 357
51

70. 982
84

71. 453
34

72. 515
44

73. 874
36

74. 230
57

75. 632
77

76. 2373
11

77. 7418
16

78. 1913
14

79. 2574
30

80. 9421
24

81. 6179
35

82. 8725
73

83. 3339
41

93

Sometimes we need to multiply quite long numbers by one or two

digits, so here is some practice in these skills. You will need to be able
to do this if you want to tackle the cross-figures later.

84. 253216
7

85. 846364
9

86.

4275937354
6

87. 327531
5

88. 521744
x4

89.

93625412
8

90. 327631
23

91. 812538
58

92.

66228844
46

Ready for your hot chocolate and biscuits? I bet you are!

94

Activity 3: Money Sums

You must be very good with your multiplication tables by now, but
that is really just the beginning. You will spend a lot of the rest of
your life using them in all sorts of situations and money calculations
is just one of those.
So, here is your chance to apply what you have learnt to money
problems and then you can amaze your teacher . Be careful to read
the questions carefully.
Before we begin, remember that you can write quantities of money
with a decimal point (in s) or without a decimal point (in pence).
For example, 6.45 can also be written as 645p.
Quite often we need to work in pence, but at the end of the sum
you may want to change your answer to pounds.
Here is an example:

John bought four cakes costing 67p each. How much did they cost
altogether?
We work out 67 x 4 which is 268. This is 268p, of course. Normally
we would change this to 2.68, so try to do that if your answers
come to more than a pound.
Okay, here we go! And no Calculators remember!
1. Bruiser comics cost 65p. 32 pupils want to buy one each.
What is the total cost of the comics?
2. Georgina has sixty seven 10p coins.
How much are they worth altogether?
3. A teacher buys 36 geography text books for her class.
Each book costs 6. How much does she have to pay for the set of books?
4. A can of Doke costs 76p. How much will 12 cans of Doke cost?

95

5. A pencil costs 12p and a ruler costs 32p.

How much will 16 pencils and 15 rulers cost altogether?
6. Notepads normally cost 45p each. Jane bought 12 of these.
Next day Mohammad saw the same notepads in another shop for just
40p each, so he bought 12 too.
How much more did Jane pay for her notepads than Mohammad?
7. A teacher took her class of thirty pupils to visit a museum.
The entrance fee for children was 95p and free for the teacher.
What was the total cost of the visit?
8. Mary saves 65p a week from her pocket money.
How much would she have saved after 16 weeks?
9. Tom ate twenty four cherry cakes, costing 36p each.
How much did the cakes cost his mum?
10. In a sale, DVDs were being sold for 99p each. Ken bought 23 DVDs.
How much did he have to pay?
11. Ribbon costs 78p a metre. How much would 35 metres cost?
12. Teddy stickers cost 12p each. An infant school wants to buy 450 for all
its pupils. How much would they cost?
13. Mary bought nine cups, nine saucers and twelve teaspoons.
Cups cost 89p each
Saucers cost 99p each
Teaspoons cost 56p each.
How much did Mary have to pay altogether?
14. Lemonade costs 45p per litre. How much would 56 litres cost?
15. Fred had 78p in his pocket. Jenny had three times as much.
How much did Jenny have?
96

16. Mrs Jones was organising a party for nine children.

She bought:
nine packets of crisps at 35p each,
nine canned drinks at 67p each and
nine rolls at 99p each.
What was the total cost?
17. How many pence are there in:
a) 3.45

b) 6.98

c) 0.87

d) 12.65

e) 9.99

f) 10 ?

18. Which is cheaper:

4 kilometres in a taxi at 89p per kilometre or
12 kilometres on a bus at 31p per kilometre?
19. Jojo has five 20p coins, seventeen 5p coins and six 50p coins.
Does she have enough to buy a CD costing 4.30? Explain your answer.
20. A felt pen costs 89p. How much would 48 pens cost?
(Note to parents: So far we have not introduced the decimal point into the
problems, except when converting pence in an answer to pounds. If your son
or daughter has not yet covered multiplying decimals please stop here and
move on to the next activity. If they have covered multiplying decimals, allow
them to carry on with the following questions.)

21. Harry bought 6 CDs costing 3.78 each. What was the total cost?
22. Jeremy earned 4.50 a week washing cars.
How much did he earn in 9 weeks?
23. Ghodsi bought ten puppets costing 3.20 each.
How much did she have to pay?
24. Light bulbs cost 1.25 each. Mr Jones owns a small hotel and needs 45
light bulbs. How much will this cost him?

97

25. Kelly was given two puppies for her birthday and needed two leads.
The leads cost 4.89 each. How much did she have to pay for both
leads?
26. Jeremy bought 50 stamps costing 1.34 each. What was the total cost?
27. What is 26 times 12.50 ?
28. Which is greater, three lots of 23.67 or four lots of 18.55?
Explain your answer.
29. A British pound costs 1.23 Euros.
How much did Pierre have to pay in Euros for 70 ?
30. A man bought three jackets costing 34.80 each.
What was the total cost?
31. What is the total cost of a CD player costing 45.67, three CDs costing
8.99 each and four pairs of earmuffs costing 0.99 each?
32. A fairground ride cost 1.50. How much did Jean have to pay for
herself, her three brothers, her two sisters, her two aunts and
three uncles to have a ride?
33. A farmer buys twelve tonnes of manure costing 34.50 per tonne and
six clothes pegs costing 45p each. What was the total cost?
34. A Buzzy Frisbee costs 2.23. What would 45 freebies cost?
35. What is the total cost of seven jumpers costing 6.80 and four tee shirts
costing 3.99 each?
36. In a sale a coat that was being sold at half price cost 45.60.
Mrs Henry missed the sale and had to pay the full price.
How much was that?
37. What is the cost of 25 cartoon books if each book cost 3.89 ?
38. A television costs 345.80. How much would ten of these televisions
cost?

98

Activity 4: Cross Figures

Why not practise your times tables and have fun at the same time? What better way than
to tackle a couple of Cross Figures, which are just like crosswords, but with numbers
instead of words and all the clues are sums in this case multiplication sums.
Just one thing before you begin: Dont forget that 562 means 56 squared which is 56
x 56. So now you can do clues like 14 across and 24 down.
1

10

12

11

13

14

15
16

18

17

19
23

25

20

21

22

24
26

27

28

Across Clues

Down Clues

1. 803 x 7
4. 101 x 10
8. 1034 x 51
10. 2714 x 23
12. 15 x 14
13. 17 x 25
14. 362
15. 656 x 222
16. 1442 x 39
18. 3212
20. 65 2
23. 149 x 2
24. 26 x 37
25. 10010 x 5
26. 855 x 54
27. 321 x 27
28. 300 x 30

2. 29 x 2301
3. 120 x 12
4. 15111 x 13
5. 1162
6. 392
7. 2424 x 3
9. 633019 x 5
11. 322638 x 7
15. 112
17. 24001 x 27
18. 21 x 93
19. 486 x 66
21. 632 x 35
22. 72 x 82
24. 972
99

FUNKY Cross Figure

6
7

10

12

13

11

14
15

18

19

16

20
21

22
23

25

17

26

27

28
29

30

31
32

33

34

Across Clues

Down Clues

2. 2431 x 27
5. 3152
6. 434 x 12
8. 323212 x 9
10. 2853 x 24
12. 431x 9
15. 101 x 20
16. 302 x 24
18. 21 x 65
20. 219 x 11
21. 2222037 x 3
23. 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 2
25. 20472
28. 482
29. 301 x 21
30. 777 x 222
32. 120405 x 12
33. 2853 x 12

1. 54467 x 14
2. 2181 x 29
3. 891 x 848
4. 286476 x 22
7. 1222
9. 164609 x 6
11. 15962
13. 120700 x 6
14. 362
17. 92
19. 582
22. 100021 x 64
24. 1122 x 5
26. 31 x 31 x 10
27. 101 x 4 x 7
29. 58 x 120
31. 5975 x 7
34. 82

100

24

Activity 5: Times Tables and Factors (1)

Multiplication Tables and Factors (1)
Great fun, factors, and they are extremely useful when doing all sorts of
things in mathematics. For example, they are most helpful when doing
calculations with fractions as you shall see very soon.
They are also an important part of the study of prime numbers, so a
good knowledge of factors will help you with this topic too.
Factors, of course, are closely related to multiplication table facts and if
you know your multiplication tables well, that is a great start.
Believe me, not many people bother to learn their tables well enough,
so you must be making great progress and good progress means you
will feel more confident. More confidence means more progress and so
it goes on.
Well, thats enough of the waffle, lets get on with the work.
Now, you probably know that a factor is a number that will divide exactly into
another number. For example, 3 divides into 21 exactly 7 times, so 3 is a
factor of 21.
5 divides exactly into 45, so 5 is a factor of 45.
So far, so good, but there are a couple of other things you should know
about factors:
First of all, the number 1 is a factor of any number, because 1 divides
exactly into all numbers.
Secondly, sometimes we want to include the number itself and sometimes
we dont. For example, the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12. Sometimes
we want to include the number 12 and sometimes we dont it depends what
we are doing.
If we do not want to include the number itself and it is not obvious, we call the
other factors the proper factors.

101

So, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 are the factors of 12, but 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 are the proper
factors of 12. I know this sounds a little complicated, but its not really ever a
problem just be aware that sometimes we want to include the number itself
and sometimes we dont.
When you are asked to find the factors of a number, it is normally a good
idea to include the number itself, so try to remember to do that.
Thirdly, you need to know how to find the factors of a number and I am now
going to show you a short cut that will help you, especially with large
numbers.
Did you notice that when I said 3 divides exactly into 21, it went 7 times. This
means that 7 must be a factor too.
We can use this to help us find the factors of large numbers.
Lets say we want to find the factors of 120.
First we know that 1 goes into 120 and it goes 120 times, of course, so 120
must be a factor too.
Next we try dividing 120 by 2 and the answer is 60, so sixty must also be a
factor because it divides into 120 twice.
When we divide 120 by 3, we get 40, so 40 must be a factor.
Can you see how quickly we are finding the factors by using this simple fact?
To help us remember the factors, we can write them down like this:
1,

120

Notice the big space to fill in the other factors.

Next we add the 2 and the 60:
1, 2,

60, 120

Now the 3 and 40:

1, 2, 3,

40, 60, 120

102

You will soon see that 4 divides into 120 exactly 30 times, so thats two more
factors we can add:
1, 2, 3, 4,

30, 40, 60, 120

As it happens, 5 goes into 120 and the answer is 24, so 5 and 24 are factors
too:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

24, 30, 40, 60, 120

6 goes into 120 exactly 20 times, so we can add those:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

20, 24, 30, 40, 60, 120

Next we try to divide by 7, but 7 will not divide into 120 exactly, so we try 8
and that goes 15 times, so add these to our list:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8,

15, 20, 24, 30, 40, 60, 120

9 will not divide into 120, so we try 10 and that goes 12 times, of course, so
we can add these:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 24, 30, 40, 60, 120
You will have noticed as we worked out the factors that the numbers on
the right of the list were getting smaller and the numbers on the left
were getting bigger, so they have to meet in the middle.
The only number left between 10 and 12 is 11 and that will not divide exactly
into 120 so we have finished.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 24, 30, 40, 60, 120 are all the
factors of 120.
This takes much longer to explain than to do and I will give you another
example in a moment, but before I do that, there is one thing that may be
worrying you We have tried dividing by all the smaller numbers, but could
there be another factor in the higher numbers that we have missed?
Could there be another factor between 40 and 60, for example?

103

The answer is a definite NO. 60 divides into 120 exactly 2 times and 40
divides exactly 3 times. If there were another factor between 40 and 60, it
would divide two and a bit times. In other words, it would not divide exactly.
We can safely say we have found all the factors.
I hope you can see that this method is much faster than trying to divide by all
the numbers up to 120 (or even just 60).
Lets try another one together, to make sure you have understood properly.

Suppose we want to find the factors of 210.

First we divide 210 by 1 and get:
1,

210

Then divide by 2:
1, 2,

105, 210

Then by 3:
1, 2, 3,

70, 105, 210

4 will not divide exactly, so the next number is 5 which goes 42 times:
1, 2, 3, 5,

42, 70, 105, 210

Then 6 which goes 35 times:

1, 2, 3, 5, 6,

35, 42, 70, 105, 210

Notice how the numbers on the right are getting smaller and the
numbers on the left are getting bigger, so its not long before they are
going to meet.
Next we try dividing by 7, which divides exactly 30 times:
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7,

30, 35, 42, 70, 105, 210

104

8 will not divide (we know this because 4 would not)

9 will not divide
10 divides exactly 21 times:
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10,

21, 30, 35, 42, 70, 105, 210

11, 12, and 13 will not divide exactly

14 divides 15 times:
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14,

15, 21, 30, 35, 42, 70, 105, 210

As 14 and 15 are next to each other, we have finished and we have found all
the factors of 210.
That wasnt too bad, was it?
Now its your turn. Try finding the factors of these numbers:

60, 100, 84, 96, 220, 250, 72, 75, 128

I hope you found all the factors. Theres lots more in the other two tasks
dealing with factors. See you then.

105

Activity 6: Times Tables and Fractions (1)

In this task I am going to teach you the most important ideas about
fractions. Of course, you may have covered these at school, but if not, I
hope you will appreciate how much easier fractions can become and
how quickly you can do them with a good knowledge of multiplication
tables.
The most important idea in fractions is Equivalent Fractions. Many people
think that equivalent fractions are just one of the topics in fraction work that
have to be covered, but they pop up every time we do a calculation using
fractions, so it is very important to really understand what they are all about.
Lets begin with a definition:
Equivalent fractions are fractions that look different, but are actually the
same value.
Take the fraction
.

1
, for example. I am sure you know it is the same as 2
2
4

It just looks different.

The numerator (the number in the top line) and the denominator (the number
in the bottom line) have changed, but the two fractions are the same.
If you had 1 a cake and I had 2 , we would both have the same amount of
2
4
cake.
Sometimes we wish to make the numerator and the denominator in a fraction
smaller to simplify the fraction and sometimes we want to increase them,
when adding, for instance.
When the numerator and the denominator are made smaller, we call the
process cancelling.
To cancel a fraction, we look for a number that is a factor of both the
numerator and denominator.

106

Take the fraction 20 , for instance. Can we find a number that is both a factor
24
of 20
and a factor of 24? You may have said 2 or you may have said 4. Normally
we like to go for the largest number we can find it saves work in the long
run.
Using the 4, we divide 4 into 20 and 4 into 24 to get the fraction 5 .
6

We say that we have cancelled by 4. If we had cancelled by 2 instead, we

would
10
have the answer 12 , which we could then cancel by two again to get 5 as
6
before.

The fractions 20 , 10 and 5 are equivalent fractions. They look different, but
24 12

actually have the same value.

When the numerator and the denominator are as small as possible as in 5 ,
6
we say the fraction is in its lowest terms.
You can see how important it is to know your multiplication tables for this
work. If you know them well, you will quickly see that both 20 and 24 are in
the 4 times table, so 4 must be a factor of 20 and 24 and we can use this to
cancel the fraction. This would be very difficult to do if you did not know the
tables, especially as the numbers get bigger.
Lets try a more difficult fraction.
We will cancel the fraction 225 .
360

There are different ways you can approach this fraction, but it is unlikely you
will be able to cancel in one go, so lets start with a small number.
We can see that 225 ends with a 5 and 360 ends with a 0, so 5 must be a
factor of 225 and 360 and we can start by cancelling by that. 5 divides into
225 exactly 45 times and 5 divides into 360 exactly 72 times, so that gives
us 45 .
72

107

Now, here is where a good knowledge of multiplication tables is useful. If you

know them really well, you will see that both 45 and 72 are in the 9 times
table, which means we can cancel both numbers by 9.
This gives us 5 and a moments thought will convince you that this fraction
8
will not cancel any more.
So the fractions 225 , 45 and 5 are all equivalent fractions and the last one
8
360 72
is in
its lowest terms.
We will see in a moment how useful all this can be, but first..

Sometimes we want to make the numerator and the denominator bigger and
for this we use the word lecnacing. You will notice that the word lecnac is
the word cancel spelt backwards. That is to emphasise that they are
opposite processes.
To lecnac a fraction, we multiply both the numerator and the denominator by
the same number.
Let us take the fraction 5 as an example.
8

10

We can multiply the numerator and the denominator by 2 to get 16 .

Or we could have multiplied them by 3 to get 15 .
24

Or by 4 to get 20 .
32

We can keep doing this to get a whole chain of fractions that are all
equivalent to each other, like this:
5
8

10
16

15
24

20
32

25
40

30
48

35
56

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It is important to remember that all these fractions have the same value, so if
we do something to one of them (like add another fraction to it) it is the same
as doing that to any of the other equivalent fractions.
Try continuing these chains of fractions:
1
2

2
4

3
6

2
3

4
6

6
9

3
5

6 9
10 15

So, now lets see why equivalent fractions are so useful.

Suppose we want to add two fractions, say 3 + 2 .
7

We cannot add them as they are because 7ths are not the same size pieces
as 9ths.
What we need to do is to make the pieces the same size by lecnacing until
the denominators are the same.
The first question is therefore, What number will 7 and 9 both divide into?
There are many numbers they will both divide into, but we normally go for the
smallest one we can find, which is 63. We want to write both fractions with a
denominator of 63. Lets do them one at a time.
To get 3 into
, we can see we need to lecnac by 9, because the
7
63
denominator
has already been multiplied by 9.
So we must multiply the 3 by 9 too. This gives us 27
.
63
To get 2 into
9

63

, we need to lecnac by 7. This gives us 14 .

63

The sum 3 + 2 has now become 27 + 14

7

63

63

41

Because the denominators are both 63, we can add the numerators to get 63
,
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which is the answer to the original sum.

To be able to do this, you need a good knowledge of:
multiplication tables
equivalent fractions
lecnacing and
numerator and denominator of fractions.
Lets try another question and this time we will write it out as you would at
school.
Find 4 + 7
5

Here is the working: 4 + 7 = 32 + 35 = 67

5

40

40

40

Can you see what we have done? First we found a number that 5 and 8 will
divide into and, because we know our tables really well, it was easy to see
that the number is 40.
We made 40 the new denominator of both fractions.
Looking at the first fraction, we see we have to lecnac by 8, which we did.
Looking at the second fraction, we see we have to lecnac by 5, which we
also did.
Then we added them together. Easy, yes?!
With this answer, there is just one extra step to take. You may have noticed
that the answer is a top heavy fraction (or improper fraction as we
sometimes say). This is because 67 is greater than 40.
We only need 40 to make a whole one (equivalent fractions again!) so we
40
can
make a whole one and still have 27 left. The full answer is therefore
40

110

1 27
40

Now, why dont you try a few using this method of lecnacing?
(What do you mean, your brains full!?)
1.

1 + 1
9
5

2.

3
1
+
5
7

3.

1
+ 1
2
6

4.

3
+ 1
4
3

5.

3
+ 3
7
8

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Activity 7: Digital Roots

Digital roots are just a bit of fun really. I dont know of any practical use
for them except to practise your multiplication tables.
Think of a number. Lets say 276. Add up the digits: 2 + 7 + 6 = 15
If the answer has more than one digit, add those up:

1 + 5 = 6.

Keep going until you have just one digit left. That is the digital root of the
number you began with.
So, in our example, 6 is the digital root of 276. Obviously if you begin with a
number with just one digit, that is the digital root and you dont have to do
anything.
Just to make sure you know what I am talking about, prove to yourself that
the digital root of 624 is 3. Im sure you understood that very easily. So heres
what to do:
Below you will see a multiplication square, but this time all the numbers along
the top and down the side are in the right order (not like the practice sheets).
Work out each multiplication and find the digital root of the answer.
Then look for patterns. What do you notice?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

112

Activity 8: Prime Numbers (1)

You may know by now what a prime number is and how to calculate them. If you dont,
this module will teach you all you need to know.
First of all, a prime number is a number that cannot be divided exactly by any number
apart from itself and 1.
For example, 7 is a prime number because it can only be divided by 7 and 1.
11 is a prime number because it can only be divided by 11 and 1.
15 is not a prime number because it can also be divided by 3 and 5.
9 is not a prime number because it can be divided by 3.
(Mathematicians do not think of the number 1 as a prime number. There are some
technical reasons for this which I am not going to go into here.)
So the first prime number is 2 because it can only be divided by 2 and 1. This is, of
course, the only even prime number because all the other even numbers can be divided
by 2.
The next prime number is 3 and the next 5. We already know that 7 and 11 are prime
numbers, so lets have a look at our list so far.
These are the prime numbers we have looked at already are: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11
How can we find the prime numbers that come after these? What we need to do is to test
each number to see if any other numbers divide into it (except itself and 1, of course).
No other numbers divide into 13, so that must be prime. 15 we already know is divisible by
3 and 5, so thats not a prime number.
17 is not divisible by other numbers and neither is 19, so these must be prime too.
21, on the other hand, is divisible by 3 and 7, so 21 is not a prime number.
So, now we have: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19,
But what about larger numbers? Isnt it going to take all day to decide if they are
prime numbers or not?
Well, there are two things that can help us. When we are testing to see which numbers
divide into the number we are testing, we do not have to test every number.
For example, lets suppose we want to see if 91 is a prime number.
First we divide by 2. We can see 2 will not go into 91, because 91 is an odd number, so
we try dividing by 3.
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3 wont divide into 91, so we are tempted to divide by 4. However, if 2 wont divide into 91,
4 wont either. And nor will 6 or 8 or 10 or 12 or 14 or any other even number.
So now we try 5. But 5 wont divide into 91 and that means that 10, 15, 20, 25 and so on
wont either.
The point is that we only have to try to divide by the prime numbers we already know
about.
So we only need to try to divide 91 by 2, 3, 5, 7 etc. If these wont divide into 91, neither
will 4, 6, 8 and so on.
So that makes life a bit easier, but there is another trick you can use to make it even
easier.
To understand this, you need to know about square roots. The square root of a number is
the number that when multiplied by itself comes to the number we started with.
For example, the square root of 9 is 3, because 3 x 3 = 9.
The square root of 16 is 4, because 4 x 4 = 16
The square root of 25 is 5, because 5 x 5 = 26.
Do you have the idea?
Theres just one small problem. The square roots of most numbers are normally pretty
nasty decimals. For example, the square root of 18 is 4.242..
But it turns out that this is not a problem. All we need is a rough square root to help us in
finding prime numbers.
Going back to our attempt to find out if 91 is a prime number, we first of all get a rough
square root of 91. We know that 9 x 9 = 81 and that 10 x 10 = 100, so the square root of
91 is a bit more than 9.
The trick is that we only need to try to divide by the prime numbers we already know up to
the square root of the number we are testing. So that means that in this case, we only
need to try to divide by 2, 3, 5 and 7. If none of these will divide into 91, then 91 is a prime
number.
This makes the job much easier.
In the case of 91, we find that 7 divides into it exactly, so 91 is not a prime number.
Lets try another example. We want to find if 263 is a prime number. This is what we do.
First we find the square root of 263. If you have a calculator you can use that, but if not we
can do it on paper. Remember we only want an approximate answer.

114

Going through the square numbers, 13 x 13 = 169 (too small)

14 x 14 = 196 (closer)
15 x 15 = 225 (better still)
16 x 16 = 256 (very close)
17 x 17 = 289 (too big)
So the square root of 263 is a bit more than 16. This means we only have to try dividing by
the prime numbers up to 16.
These are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13.
We can see that 263 is not divisible by 2 because it is an odd number.
We can see it is not divisible by 5 because it does not end in 5 or 0.
So all we have to divide by now is 3, 7, 11 and 13. Wow! Thats a lot easier.
Try dividing 263 by these numbers to see if it is a prime number.
Now you can find out if any number that is not too big is a prime number or not quite
easily.
Try these numbers. Are they prime numbers?
67, 93, 87, 97, 101, 127, 143
Ill start you off with the first one. The square root of 67 is about 8 because 8 x 8 is 64 and
thats near enough.
So all you have to do is try to divide 67 by the prime numbers less than 8.
These are 2, 3, 5 and 7.
You can see straight away that two of these do not divide into 67 (why?), so that only
leaves you with a couple of sums to do. Have a go now.

Once you have practised this a bit, you will find that discovering prime numbers is a lot
easier than you might think, so why not make a list. You will find it useful later.
Of course, you will find lists of prime numbers on the internet, but where is the fun in that?
I cant help feeling thats cheating a bit. But not only that, you will learn much more about
prime numbers by working them out yourself. Any idiot can look them up on the internet.
But, once you have worked out all the prime numbers up to 100 (further if you wish), you
could look them up just to check, providing youve done all the work yourself first.
You may have guessed that I love prime numbers. The more you find out about them, the
more interesting they get. I hope you find the same.

115

Activity 9: Times Tables and Powers

Have you ever looked at the last digits in the sequence when you multiply a
number by itself, then by itself again and by itself again and so on?
No? Well I dont find that surprising, but we can have a look now.
Lets begin with the number 2.
Obviously 2 ends with 2, so thats the first number in the sequence.
Multiply 2 by 2 to get 4 and that ends with 4, so thats the next number in
the sequence.
Multiply 4 by 2 to get 8 and that ends with 8, so thats the next number in
the sequence.
Multiply 8 by 2 to get 16 and that ends with 6, so thats the next one.
Multiply 16 by 2 to get 32 and that ends with 2, so thats the next one.
We have the sequence:

2, 4, 8, 6, 2
Continue the next few numbers in the sequence and see what you get. What
is the pattern?
Now try the pattern for multiplying by 3.
Here are the first two numbers in the sequence:

3, 9
What happens next?
Now try the same thing for all the numbers up to 9 and see what patterns you
can see.

116

Activity 10: Square Numbers (1)

Square numbers are, of course, the answers when whole numbers are
multiplied by themselves.
For examples, if we multiply 5 x 5, the answer is 25, so 25 is a square
number.
Some people like to think of square numbers in a diagram. We can imagine a
square with 25 dots, 5 dots long and 5 dots wide. (Thats why they are called
square numbers, of course).

Can you write down all the square numbers up to 20 x 20? (if you dont know
them, you will have to work them out without a calculator, naturally)? Heres
the first few to get you started:

When you have found them all up to 20 x 20 (further if you want), take the
differences between each pair and look at the pattern. What do you notice?
I have done a couple for you. (Dont say Im not helpful.)

1
1

Once you have spotted the pattern in the differences, write down the next
four differences. Use these to write down the next four square numbers.
Lastly, check to make sure these new numbers really are square numbers.
You can see how important multiplication tables are. Dont they come into an
awful lot of mathematics?

117

Lastly, we can write the square of a number by putting a little 2 to the top
right of the number, like this: 52. So we can write 52 = 25. (But I guess you
knew that already!)
On a computer, writing a small number up high like this is called superscript.

118

Activity 11: Divisibility Tests

Sometimes we want to know if one number is divisible by another. For
example, we need to do this when we are cancelling fractions.
Can we see easily if 6 will divide into 32142 ?
Over the years, people have discovered some Tests for Divisibility to help
us do this.
Here I am going to go through some of these to help you with this problem.
As usual, a good knowledge of multiplication tables really helps.
Test for Divisibility by 2
Obviously, if a number ends in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8, the number is even and 2 will
divide into it.
Examples: 2 will divide into 56, 3826 and 9000
but not into 36661, 89 or 2001
Test for Divisibility by 3
To test if a number is divisible by 3, we add up all the digits. If the total is
divisible by 3, the whole number is divisible by 3.
Example: Take the number 45 387. Add the digits: 4 + 5 + 3 + 8 + 7 = 27
27 is divisible by 3, so 45 387 is also divisible by 3.
Test for Divisibility by 4
If the last two digits of a number are divisible by 4, the whole number is
divisible
by 4.
Example: Take the number 8432.
so it will divide into 8432.

4 will divide into 32 (the last two digits),

119

Test for Divisibility by 5

If a number ends in a 0 or a 5, the whole number is divisible by 5.
Examples: 25, 985, 6320, and 42280 are all divisible by 5.
67, 7 000 001 and 873 are not.

Test for Divisibility by 6

If a number is divisible by 2 (which means it must be even) and it is divisible
by 3, the whole number is divisible by 6.
Example: 72 528 is divisible because it is even and the total of its digits is
divisible by 3. (7 + 2 + 5 + 2 + 8 = 24).
Test for Divisibility by 7
There is no easy test for divisibility by 7. The only way to tell is to divide the
number by 7 and see!
Test for Divisibility by 8
If the last three digits are divisible by 8, the whole number is divisible by 8.
Example: Take the number 57328.
digits), so it will divide into 57328.

8 will divide into 328 (the last three

Test for Divisibility by 9

If the total of the digits is divisible by 9, so is the original number.
Example: Take the number 45 387. The total of the digits is 4 + 5 + 3 + 8 + 7
= 27.
9 divides exactly into 27, so 45 387 is also divisible by 9.
Test for Divisibility by 10
If a number ends in a 0, the whole number is divisible by 10.
Example: 760 is divisible by 10 because the last digit is 0.

120

Test for Divisibility by 11

There is no easy test for divisibility by 11. The only way to tell is to divide the
number by 11 and see!
Tests for divisibility by higher numbers.
From now on you can sometimes test divisibility by using two tests together,
rather like we did for divisibility by 6.
For example, to test for divisibility by 12, we can test for divisibility by 3 and
by 4.
To test divisibility by 15, we can test for divisibility by 3 and 5.
You may need to be a little ingenious, but often you can find a way.
Using the above tests, can you see what numbers will divide into these
numbers:
89 360,

672,

87 640,

365 235

These tests are a great help when working with fractions, factors, prime
numbers and many other mathematical topics. They work well together with a
good knowledge of your multiplication tables, so arent you glad you know
yours?

121

Activity 12: Repunit Numbers

I bet anything you like (well, not a million pounds, perhaps) you have never
heard of Repunit numbers and I also bet you are absolutely fascinated to find
out what they are.
Before you can see what type of number they are, you are going to have to
do some big sums using (you guessed it!), your multiplication tables again.
Try these sums and see what you notice about the answers:

NO CALCULATORS.
1.

41 x 271

2.

3 x 7 x 11 x 13 x 37

3.

239 x 4649

4.

513239 x 21649

5.

(If you still have some energy left you can try this one)
5363222357 x 2071723 (Yikes!)

Now can you see what Repunit numbers are (assuming you didnt make any
mistakes with the multiplications, of course). If you still havent worked it out,
divide the word Repunit into two parts.
To work out some of the very large Repunit numbers you would need a good
computer, but you might be able to work out a few that are smaller than the
ones I have given here.
Can you find multiplication sums for the first 4 Repunit numbers?

122

Activity 13: Square Numbers (2)

Now heres a bit of fun using square numbers and those wonderful
multiplication tables. (If you are not sure what square numbers are and how
to find them, look at the Square Numbers (1) task.)
Firstly, we can try to find groups of three square numbers so that two of them
add up to the third.
Here are the first few square numbers:

1 4 9 16 25 36 .

Can you find two of these that add up to one of the others?
Yes, the answer is 9 + 16 = 25.
We call this group of three square numbers (9, 16 and 25) a Pythagorean
Triple.
If you have not covered Pythagoras Theorem at school yet, you will, you will!
When you do, you will find these triples quite handy, but for the moment, they
are just good fun.
See how many you can find. HINT: You will need a lot more square
numbers to get a good range of triples, so JUST FOR ONCE (and only this
once), you can use a calculator to find them.
(Note to parents: If your son or daughter uses a calculator for any other work
apart from this, no hot milk and chocolate biscuits for them tonight! You may
have them instead! And let them sleep with hedgehogs and porcupines that
should teach them!)

Now, heres something else you can play with.

You know, of course that 82 = 82, but did you know that:

82 = 7 x 9 + 1

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Just a minute, I hear you scream, where did that come from?
Well guys, it came by taking one less than 8 and one more than 8, multiplying
them together and adding 1. Clever stuff, eh? Until now, only top British spies
knew this.
Lets try that with another number. Lets take 12. You know, of course that
122 = 144 (If you didnt, you do now.)
So lets take one off 12 and add one to 12. Multiply the answers and add 1.
What do we get?

122 = 11 x 13 + 1
Check to see if this is correct and then complete these statements:

92 = 8 x 10 + ?
42 = 3 x ..
172 =
Try a few of your own to convince yourself it always works.

When you are happy with that, try taking two off the number and adding two
to the number. For example:

72 = 5 x 9 + ?
What do you have to add on to make this statement true? Try a few more.
Can you work out the pattern for taking off 3 and adding on 3?
Or 4 or 5 or 6 etc?

124

Activity 14: Digit Squaring

This is a great bit of fun which will focus on your knowledge of square numbers as well as
on normal multiplication tables. It is also a good exercise in looking for patterns.
The idea is to make number chains by following a simple rule and this is how this
particular rule works:
Think of a number and write it down. Any number will do, but it is best to start with a two
digit number as you will soon see.
I will choose the number 37.
The rule is simply to square each of the digits in the number and add them up.

37
9

49
58

The square of 3 is 9 and the square of 7 is 49 and when we add these we get 58.
Simple enough, you might think. So now we carry on the chain by doing the same to 58.
The square of 5 is 25 and the square of 8 is 64. The total of 25 and 64 is 89, so our chain
now looks like this:

37
9

49
58

25

64
89

Occasionally the answer to the total will have just one digit, in which case just square it
(so, for example the number 11 will lead to the number 2. 2 squared is 4 and 4 squared is
16 and you are back to two digits again). In some cases you may find you have three
digits, in which case square all three and add these up.
Carry on with the chain until you notice some interesting things. For instance, you may
notice the same number keeps popping up, so you are going round in circles. You could

125

redraw this bit of the chain as a circle with some other numbers leading into it. I dont want
to do this here as that will be giving the game away.
It is possible to put all the numbers up to 100 (with a few larger than 100 that pop up now
and then) into a large diagram, so that each number appears once and only once. The
question is, Will this be one large diagram in which every number is connected to another
number in the diagram, or will it have several sections that are not joined to the other
sections?
Okay, heres one tiny clue that may help. Sooner or later you will be using the number 37
in the chain and if you square the digits and add them up, the total is 58. But, of course,
73 has the same digits as 37, so when you square them and add them up, the total will be
58 too.
So, on your diagram both 37 and 73 will lead to 58. In this way, we can gradually include
all the numbers.
This will happen to lots of pairs such as 64 and 46.
You will need to work very carefully as a few simple errors can mess up the whole
investigation.
And you will probably need quite a bit of paper (or you could write very small!).
If you are really nuts, you could count how many calculations you have done from the
multiplication table facts. Have fun!

126

Activity 15: Triangle Numbers

You may know that square numbers are numbers you can arrange in a
square of dots. For example 25 is a square number because it can be
arranged as a square 5 dots wide and 5 dots long:

But did you know that dots can also be arranged in the shape of triangles to
give triangle numbers?
We begin with a row with just one dot, then a row with two dots, then three
and so on:

If we look at the first row, there is just one dot, so the first triangle number is
1.
If we look at the first two rows, there are three dots altogether, so the second
triangle number is 3.
The first three rows give us 6 dots and so on. So the triangle numbers are:

1 3 6 10 15 .
Can you write down the next 10 triangle numbers?
Now here is a bit of algebra for you. Dont panic if you havent done much
algebra yet I will explain everything as usual.

127

The formula for triangle numbers is n(n+1)

2
n stands for a number. If we want the fifth triangle number, n is 5. If we want
the tenth, n is 10 and so on.
All we have to do is to put the number for n in the formula.
n + 1 in the bracket means add 1 to n.
n(n + 1) means multiply the bit in the bracket by n.
And the 2 in the denominator of the fraction means divide by 2.

Lets give it a go:

Suppose we want the 4th triangle number. That means that n = 4.
Put the number 4 for n in the bracket and add the 1. That gives us 5.
So the top row is now 4 x 5. This equals 20, of course.
Lastly, we divide by the 2 to get 10. So the 4th triangle number is 10.
And it is! How easy is that.

Lets do it one more time. In the list above, we have the first 5 triangle
numbers:
(1, 3, 6, 10, 15).
Suppose we want to find the next one in the sequence. That is the 6th one,
so we make n = 6.
Put n = 6 in the bracket and we get n + 1, which is 7.
Multiply that by n, so we have 6 x 7. That is 42.
Lastly, divide by 2 to get 21.
128

So 21 is the sixth triangle number.

Use the formula to find the 7th triangle number.

Now you have the idea, can you use the formula to find the 20th triangle
number?
Can you find the 50th?

No Calculators

Can you find the 124th ?

What is the largest triangle number you can find?

129

Activity 16: Times Tables and Factors (2)

Once you know how to find factors and prime factors, you can do all sorts of
things with them. If you are not sure about these ideas, look back at the
earlier tasks.
In this task, we are going to see how to find the HCF and LCM of two
numbers.
First the HCF.
HCF stands for Highest Common Factor.
Think about two numbers such as 48 and 60. There are lots of numbers that
will divide exactly into both 48 and 60. These are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 and so
these are all Common Factors because they are factors that are common to
both
48 and 60.
What we are trying to find is the Highest Common Factor and if we look at
this list, we can see this must be 12.
In other words, 12 is the highest number that will divide exactly into both 48
and 60.
The thing is that this is quite easy to see if the numbers are not too difficult.
But what about more difficult numbers such as 15400 and 10920. Not so
easy now!
What we need is a method that always works and always finds the HCF
without any BIG TROUBLE.
Before we try those two whopping big numbers, lets try the method with 48
and 60 to see that it really does work.
What we do is to calculate the prime factors of each number. If you are not
sure how to do this, study the Prime Numbers (2) task.
To find the prime factors of 48 we can either use the division method or the
factor tree method. I shall use the division method:

130

2)48
2)24
2)12
2) 6
3) 3
1

So the prime factors of 48 are 2, 2, 2, 2 and 3

Now do the same for 60:

2)60
2)30
3)15
5) 5
1 So the prime factors of 60 are 2, 2, 3 and 5
Look at the two sets of prime factors:
48:
60:

2, 2, 2, 2 and 3
2, 2, 3 and 5

What we do now is to select the factors that appear in both lists. These are:
2, 2 and 3 and we multiply them together.
2 x 2 x 3 = 12 and this gives us the Highest Common Factor as we
discovered earlier.
Now we know that it works, lets try this method on those two huge numbers
15400 and 10920.
2)15400
2) 7700
2) 3850
5) 1925
5) 385
7)
77
11) 11
1

Although this is a large number, it

factorised easily as it is made up of 2s,
5s and 77 which is obviously 7 x 11

So the prime factors of 15400 are 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 7 and 11 (check by

multiplying them together: 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 5x 7 x 11 = 15400)
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Now do the same with 10920

2)10920
2) 5460
2) 2730
3) 1365
5) 455
7)
91
13) 13
1

Here we used the test for divisibility by 3:

1 + 3 + 6 + 5 = 15 which is divisible by 3,
so 1365 must be divisible by 3 too.
The rest was easy.

So the prime factors of 10920 are 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 13.

Now we have the two sets of prime factors:

15400: 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 7 and 11
10920: 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 13
Which factors are in both groups?
The answer is 2, 2, 2, 5 and 7.
Multiply these together to get 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x7 = 280
So 280 is the Highest Common Factor of 15400 and 10920. This means
that 280 is the largest number that will divide exactly into the two big
numbers. You wont find a bigger one!
You would have had a job to work that out any other way and it wasnt very
difficult because all we had to do really was divide by easy numbers such as
2, 3, 5, and 7. You will be very familiar with these from practising the
multiplication tables.
Now its your turn. Use this method to find the HCF of these pairs of
numbers:
(Even if you can see the answer to the smaller numbers, practise the method
so that you know what you are doing when you get to the bigger numbers.)
60 and 90,

54 and 63,

5775 and 4095,

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5775 and 4095

If you feel you can face it, try this one with three numbers. Find the prime
factors as before and see which ones are in all three groups. When you
have them, multiply them together as before and Bobs your uncle.
3000, 1980 and 10500
It looks horrific, but just follow the method and you will be surprised how easy
it is!
_____________________
Now lets take a look at the LCM.
LCM stands for Lowest Common Multiple. Take the numbers 12 and 15,
for example. There are lots of multiples of each:
Multiples of 12: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120, 132
Multiples of 15: 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135
There are some multiples that are the same for both. The first two are 60 and
120.
It is not too difficult to see that the next is 180 and the one after that is 240
and so on.
When you are finding the LCM, you want the lowest of these, which in this
case is 60.
So 60 is the Lowest Common Multiple of 12 and 15.
In other words, 60 is the smallest number that both 12 and 15 will divide into
exactly.
Again we need a proper method for finding the LCM, especially when the
numbers are large.
Let us use the two numbers we began with: 48 and 60.
What is the LCM of 48 and 60 ?
We use the prime factors again and fortunately we have already worked
them out:
So the prime factors of 48 are 2, 2, 2, 2 and 3
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and the prime factors of 60 are 2, 2, 3 and 5

What we do now is to take all the prime factors of one of the numbers
and add to this list any in the other list that have not been included.
Lets begin by writing down the prime factors of 48:
2, 2, 2, 2, 3
Looking at the list for 60, we can see that we have an extra 5 that is not in the
48 list, so we add it to the list.
This gives us: 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5
Now all we do is to multiply these together:
2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 = 240
So 240 is the LCM of 48 and 60.
To put it another way, 240 is the smallest number that both 48 and 60 will
divide into exactly.
I think this is a very clever method and it always works. Perhaps the person
who thought of it deserves a medal. Unfortunately, it wasnt me!
Lets try this now with our two whopping numbers 10920 and 15400.
We have already worked out the prime factors of these two numbers, so that
will save us some work:
10920: 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 13
15400: 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 7 and 11
Again, we write down all the numbers in one group:
2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 7, 13
And we add any in the other group that we have not already included.
We need to be careful here. We already have three 3s and there are three
3s in the second group, so thats alright.
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But we only have one 5 in the first group and there are two in the second
group, so we need to add another:
2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 7, 13
We have one 7 in each group, so thats alright.
We have 11 in the second group that is not in the first group, so we need to
add it to our list.
2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 7, 11, 13
In case you are wondering, we have a 3 in the first group that is not in the
second, but we have already included that, so we have finished.
Now all we have to do is multiply the numbers in this list together:
2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 5 x 7 x 11 x 13 = 600 600
So, there we are. The smallest number that both 10920 and 15400 will divide
into exactly is 600 600. Who would have thought it would turn out to be such
a beautiful number? I must admit that I was surprised too.
Now try to find the LCM of the numbers you used to work out the HCFs.
Here they are again:
60 and 90,

54 and 63,

3000, 1980 and 10500

5775 and 4095,

5775 and 4095

Have loads of fun with this, but work carefully.

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Activity 17: Prime Numbers (2)

You know by now what a prime number is and how to calculate them. (If you dont, please
go back to Prime Numbers (1) and have a go at that task first).
Here we are going to take a look at a few interesting ideas relating to prime numbers.

Sieve of Eratosthenes

(pronounced E RA TOS THE KNEES)

Eratosthenes was a very interesting person and he lived from 276 BC until 195 BC
(approximate dates). Can you work out how old he was when he died?
He lived in a place called Cyrene, which was a Greek colony in those days.
He was the first person to measure the size of the Earth and the tilt of the Earths axis,
which he did very accurately. He was the first person to use the word geography. He
invented a system of latitude and longitude. He produced a map of the world based on the
knowledge people had at the time. He was also a poet and a good athlete.
Today he has a crater on the Moon named after him and here it is:

Here is a picture of Eratosthenes.

Handsome chap, dont you think?

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And, of course, he invented a type of sieve for finding prime numbers. One thing you may
have noticed is that prime numbers do not appear in the multiplication table except where
they are multiplied by 1.
Eratosthenes used this idea to show how you could find the prime numbers.

1
11
21
31
41
51
61
71
81
91

2
12
22
32
42
52
62
72
82
92

3
13
23
33
43
53
63
73
83
93

4
14
24
34
44
54
64
74
84
94

5
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95

6
16
26
36
46
56
66
76
86
96

7
17
27
37
47
57
67
77
87
97

8
18
28
38
48
58
68
78
88
98

9 10
19 20
29 30
39 40
49 50
59 60
69 70
79 80
89 90
99 100

Follow this simple set of instructions:

Cross out the number 1 because 1 is not a prime number.
Leave the number 2 and cross out every multiple of 2 after that.
Leave the number 3 and cross out every multiple of 3 after that.
Leave the number 5 and cross out every multiple of 5 after that.
(We missed out 4, of course, because all the multiples of 4 were crossed out when we
crossed out the multiples of 2)
Leave the number 7 and cross out every multiple of 7 after that.

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If you want to check, your table should now look like this:

2 3
11
13
23
31
41
43
53
61
71
73
83

7
17

19
29

37
47
59
67
79
89
97

You may have made a table that went beyond the number 100. If you did, you may still
have some numbers to cross out, but if you stopped at 100, you will find that all the
numbers left in the table are prime numbers.
How do you know which numbers to use for crossing out? It should be obvious when you
look at the table. We have used 2, 3, 5 and 7, which are the first numbers left in the table.
If you want to try a larger table, the ne3xt number to use for crossing out would be 11
(Leave the number 11 and cross out every multiple of 11 after that).
The next would be 13 and so on. The numbers to use are the prime numbers you are
finding, so what could be easier?
Just for fun, why not make a table that goes up to 200 and use Eratosthenes idea to find
the prime numbers up to 100. If you want to go on to the tasks in Prime Numbers (3), this
will be a very useful list to have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Twin Primes
Notice that sometimes we just say primes instead of prime numbers. Mathematicians
are so lazy, they often spend years trying to make things simpler to do, so it is no wonder
they find it difficult to say prime numbers and say primes instead.
(In case you didnt realise, theres a joke there somewhere).
Okay so what are twin primes. Well, its a very easy idea. Twin primes are pairs of prime
numbers that are just two numbers apart. If you look at your list of prime numbers, you will
see
11 and 13,

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17 and 19 and so on. Each pair are just two numbers apart. How many pairs of twin
primes can you find?
If you are interested, the largest known twin primes were discovered in 2009 and have
100 355 digits in each! (So I wont write them down here.)
While I am talking about large prime numbers, you may be wondering what the largest
known prime number is. This has 12 978 189 digits. If I could write it down and you read it
out, without stopping at one digit every second, it would take you over 150 days thats
nearly 5 months!

Prime Factors
You will find it very useful to be able to find the prime factors of a number as these will
come into your later mathematical work. This is a good application of multiplication tables.
You already know what factors are.
For example, the factors of 60 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30 and 60.
Prime factors are the factors that are prime numbers, so looking for the prime numbers in
our list, we can see 2, 3 and 5. This means that the prime factors of 60 are 2, 3 and 5.
That sound easy enough, but mathematicians sometimes want to know how many 2s you
need and how many 3s you need and how many 5s you need to make 60.
If you think about it for a little while, you will see you need two 2s, one 3 and one 5 to
make 60 like this:
60 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 5
But what are prime factors of a number like 7560? Its not quite so easy now, I am sure
you will agree. What we need is a method that will always give us the prime factors quickly
and easily. There are two main ones you can use, the division method and the factor
tree.
Lets look at the division method first.

Division method
This method consists of making a number of divisions using the prime numbers to divide
by.
I start by asking myself, What is the smallest prime number that will divide into 7560?,
and I think you will soon realise that the answer is 2, because 7560 is an even number.
So we divide 7560 by 2

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2)7560
3780
Now we ask the same question. What is the smallest prime number that will divide into
3780? Again it is 2 because 3780 is an even number. So we do the division.
2)3780
1890
Same again the smallest prime number that will divide into 1890 is 2, so we divide.
2)1890
945
Aha! An odd number, so we cant divide by 2 any more. Whats the next prime number
that will divide into 945. Adding the digits 9 + 4 + 5 = 18 and using the divisibility test for
three, we can see that 3 will divide into 945, so lets do that.
3)945
315
And again.
3)315
105
And again.
3)105
35
The next smallest prime number that will divide into 35 is 5, so we divide by 5.
5)35
7 and 7 is a prime number, so we are finished.
Which numbers have we divided by? Lets make a list:
2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 7

(Notice we include the final prime factor, 7)

So we have found all the prime factors of 7560 and we can see that
7560 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 7, so thats it. Well done us!

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If we take out all the explanation, we can write all the working as one very long division
sum, like this:
2)7560
2)3780
2)1890
3) 945
3) 315
3) 105
5) 35
7)
7
have
1

(Some people like to continue until they reach 1 in the last division, so I
done that here)

Now all we need to do is to read down the left hand column 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 7

= 7560
Why not try it yourself and find the prime factors of these numbers:
2100,

3850,

875,

11025

The great thing about this method is that as the number you are dividing by gets bigger,
the number you are dividing into gets smaller, so it normally gets easier as you get
towards the end.
Now lets look at the Factor Tree method:

Factor Tree
The factor tree is a method that generally works well for finding the prime factors of bigger
numbers, but can take up a lot of space on your page.
We start by finding any two numbers that multiplied together come to the number we are
trying to factorise. Using our number 7560, we can easily see that 7560 = 756 x 10. It
doesnt matter at this stage that neither of these number is a prime number.
We draw this on a diagram like this:
7560
756

10

Next we try to find numbers that divide into 756. This is a bit tricky as this is a difficult
number, but we do know that 2 goes into it because it is prime. We divide 2 into 756 to get
378 and we put this on our diagram. We also know that 10 = 2 x 5, so we can put these on
the diagram at the same time.

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The tree diagram now looks like this:

7560
756

10

378

Each time we find a prime number, we write it in bold. You may like to put a circle around
it.
So far we have found 2, 2 and 5.
When we find a prime number, that branch of the tree is finished, so we concentrate now
on the number 378.
Again this is even, so we divide by 2 and the answer is 189. This is divisible by 3, so we
divide it by 3. When we have finished, the tree looks like this:
7560
756

10

378

189

63

3
9
3

7
3

Make sure you understand what we have done here because you are going to need it
later.
If we look at the prime numbers again, we see we have the same group as before:
2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 7 = 7560 (We may have to write them in a different order)
For numbers like 7560 this method can be a bit harder than the division method, but
sometimes it is very easy. Try, for example, finding the prime factors of 600. (Clue: We
can see straight away that 600 = 20 x 30, so these numbers go on the first branches of
the tree.)
Then try these numbers: 48,

1000,

64,

142

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How many prime numbers are there?

There are an infinite number of prime numbers. In other words, they go on for ever and
ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and even further than you could ever imagine.
This has been known for a long time, but you may be interested in knowing how many
prime numbers there are lower than 100 or 1 000 or 10 000 etc.
The table below tells you all you need to know. I have missed out the number up to 100
because you can use your sieve of Eratosthenes to count for yourself.
Up to
1 000
10 000
100 000
1 000 000
10 000 000
100 000 000

There are this number of

Percentage of numbers that are
primes
prime
168
16.8%
1 229
12.29%
9 592
9.592%
78 498
7.8498%
664 579
6.664579%
5 761 455
5.761455%

So, for example, there are 9 592 prime numbers up to the number 100 000.
The third column tells you what percentage of all the numbers are prime numbers. So, for
example, 12.29% of all numbers up to 10 000 are prime numbers, but this has shrunk to
5.761455% for all the numbers up to 100 million.
This is interesting because it tells us that as we go up the number line, prime numbers get
further apart. Well, what do you know?
Okay, guys, that may be all you can stomach about prime numbers for now and you may
feel you have had lots of practice with the multiplication tables, but if you think you can
take even more, you might like to try the third module on Prime Numbers which you will
find in the Higher level tasks. But be prepared to have your brain really stretched!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Going back to Eratosthenes having a crater on the Moon named after him, all the
other people who have craters named after them are dead. All except one, that is. Can
you find out who it is?

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