3 Times Table

How to use the 3 times table tool

To make a printable 3 times table worksheet:

1. Click Printable worksheet above the work area.
2. Set Times table goes up to to × 10, × 12 (the default), × 15 or × 20.
3. Keep Include both orders (3 × 7 and 7 × 3) ticked to mix both orders, or untick it to leave out the reversed facts.
4. Choose a Worksheet type: Mixed facts (3 × 7 = __), Missing factor (3 × __ = 21), Division facts (21 ÷ 3 = __), Table in order (3 × 1, 3 × 2 …) or Fill in the table.
5. Set Problems (12 to 40) and Columns (2 to 5).
6. For Fill in the table, set Blanks to Every answer blank, Most answers blank or About half blank.
7. Tick Include answer key if you want the answers on their own page.
8. Set Paper to US Letter or A4.
9. Click Print or save as PDF.

The preview updates as you change each setting. Click New worksheet for a different random set of problems with the same settings. Each sheet has a short worksheet code shown under the buttons. The page address stores your settings, so a bookmarked or shared link opens the same view, and Reset settings restores the defaults.

For the quiz, click Practice on screen and then choose the question type, number of questions and countdown timer.

A simple routine for the 3 times table: read the table in the learning view, answer 20 questions in Practice on screen, then print a worksheet of missing factors such as 3 × __ = 21 and keep the answer key for checking.

What are the patterns in the 3 times table?

The answers follow four patterns you can check by eye. Each answer is 3 more than the one before, so the table is the same as counting by 3s: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36.

The ones digit goes 3, 6, 9, 2, 5, 8, 1, 4, 7, 0 and then repeats, so every digit from 0 to 9 appears once before the cycle starts again. The answers alternate odd, even, odd, even because 3 is odd. An odd number times an odd number is odd, and an odd number times an even number is even.

Add up the digits of any answer and the total is a multiple of 3, which is 3, 6 or 9 in this table. For example, 3 × 7 = 21, and 2 + 1 = 3.

How do I learn the 3 times table quickly?

Start with the facts you already know. 3 × 2 = 6 is the same fact as 2 × 3 = 6, so the only new facts are 3 × 3 = 9 up to 3 × 12 = 36. If you already know the 1 and 2 times tables, that leaves 10 facts to learn.

Use repeated addition to build each new fact from 3s. In the learning view, 3 × 4 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 and 3 × 5 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15. Say the counting-by-3s row out loud, then cover it and say the answer to a single fact. Practice a few facts at a time, and come back to the ones you miss.

Is there a trick for the 3 times table?

Yes. Split 3 into 2 + 1, then use two facts you probably know and add them. For example, 3 × 7 = (2 × 7) + (1 × 7) = 14 + 7 = 21. The same method works for every fact up to 3 × 12, such as 3 × 8 = 16 + 8 = 24.

A second memory cue is the digit run. The digits 1, 2, 3, 4 count up in a row, and they match 3 × 4 = 12.

Can I print the 3 times table or a 3 times table worksheet?

Yes. The printable worksheet is the printed form of the 3 times table. Choose Printable worksheet, then click Print or save as PDF. Paper size is US Letter or A4.

When Include answer key is ticked, the answers print on their own separate page after the worksheet. The browser’s print dialog can also save the sheet as a PDF. If you print during a quiz, the worksheet with the same settings prints, not the quiz screen.

Is there a free 3 times table quiz I can do on a phone or tablet?

Yes. Practice on screen is a free quiz that runs in the browser with no sign-up. It shows one question at a time, such as 3 × 7 = ?. You type the answer in the labelled box and press Enter or Check. Right or wrong appears straight away with the full fact, and the score and question number update. On phones, the number keypad is requested.

You can choose multiplication, missing factor, division or a mix of all three. You can also choose 10, 20 (the default), 30 or 50 questions, or keep going until you stop. The countdown can be none (the default), 30 seconds, 1, 2 or 5 minutes. When the countdown reaches zero, the quiz ends and the answers so far are scored. Within one round every fact is asked once before any repeats, and the same fact is never asked twice in a row. The end screen lists the missed facts and offers Practice the missed facts, Play again, and a button to the printable worksheet.

How do I make a 3 times table worksheet with missing numbers or division facts?

Choose Missing factor or Division facts as the Worksheet type. Missing factor hides one number in a fact, such as 3 × __ = 15, and with both orders on it can also show __ × 3 = 15. Division facts rewrite each fact as a division, such as 15 ÷ 3 = __.

These examples use worksheet code k5print with the Worksheet type changed:

• Missing factor: __ × 7 = 21 (answer 3); 3 × __ = 15 (answer 5); 3 × __ = 30 (answer 10); 10 × __ = 30 (answer 3); __ × 3 = 15 (answer 5).
• Division facts: 21 ÷ 3 = __ (answer 7); 15 ÷ 3 = __ (answer 5); 30 ÷ 3 = __ (answer 10); 30 ÷ 10 = __ (answer 3); 15 ÷ 5 = __ (answer 3).