The 3 times table
The 3s are the first table without an obvious ending pattern — but they hide a neat digit trick you can use to check any answer.
- 3×1=3
- 3×2=6
- 3×3=9
- 3×4=12
- 3×5=15
- 3×6=18
- 3×7=21
- 3×8=24
- 3×9=27
- 3×10=30
- 3×11=33
- 3×12=36
How to learn the 3s
Each line means “3 groups of”. So 3 × 4 = 12 means four groups of 3 make 12. Every answer is just 3 more than the one before: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15…
The highlighted facts, 3 × 7 = 21, 3 × 8 = 24 and 3 × 9 = 27, are the ones learners usually find hardest. The tips below give you a way into each one.
Self-test: press “Hide answers”, say each answer out loud, then tap a fact to check it.
In real life
Triangles have 3 sides and tricycles have 3 wheels. Five tricycles have 3 × 5 = 15 wheels.
Three ways to make the 3s easy
Double, then add one more
3 × a number is the 2s answer plus one more of that number.
3 × 7 = 14 + 7 = 21The digit-sum check
Add the digits of any 3s answer and you get 3, 6 or 9 (keep adding if the total has two digits). If not, it isn’t in the 3s.
3 × 8 = 24 → 2 + 4 = 6 ✓Lean on 3 × 10
3 × 10 = 30. Count back or on by one 3 to reach the neighbours.
3 × 9 = 30 − 3 = 27, 3 × 11 = 30 + 3 = 33Spot the pattern
Last digits of 3 × 1 to 3 × 10:
Every last digit, once. From 3 × 1 to 3 × 10 the last digits are 3, 6, 9, 2, 5, 8, 1, 4, 7, 0 — each digit appears exactly once.
Digit sums go 3, 6, 9. 3, 6, 9, 12 (1+2=3), 15 (6), 18 (9), 21 (3)… the digit sums repeat 3, 6, 9 forever.
Odd, even, odd, even. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 — adding an odd number flips odd to even and back.
The matching division facts
Every multiplication fact gives you a division fact for free. If 3 × 7 = 21, then 21 ÷ 3 = 7.
- 3 ÷ 3 = 1
- 6 ÷ 3 = 2
- 9 ÷ 3 = 3
- 12 ÷ 3 = 4
- 15 ÷ 3 = 5
- 18 ÷ 3 = 6
- 21 ÷ 3 = 7
- 24 ÷ 3 = 8
- 27 ÷ 3 = 9
- 30 ÷ 3 = 10
- 33 ÷ 3 = 11
- 36 ÷ 3 = 12
3 times table worksheet
Free, no sign-up. A 2-page PDF: the full table with tricks and division facts, plus a worksheet (fill-in, missing numbers, division) with an answer key. US Letter, A4-safe.
Next steps
Tables that connect to the 3s
- 6 times table — double every 3s answer
- 9 times table — every 9s answer is in the 3s
- 12 times table — every 12s answer is in the 3s
- 30 times table — every 30s answer is in the 3s
- ×22 times table
- ×33 times table
- ×44 times table
- ×55 times table
- ×66 times table
- ×77 times table
- ×88 times table
- ×99 times table
- ×1010 times table
- ×1111 times table
- ×1212 times table
- ×1313 times table
- ×1414 times table
- ×1515 times table
- ×1616 times table
- ×1818 times table
- ×2020 times table
- ×2525 times table
- ×3030 times table
Practice the 3s anywhere
Take the tables with you: games, quizzes and division drills at your own level, even offline.
- Six ways to practice, including Times Table Game, Speed Tap and Timed Quiz
- Pick your range: tables 1–10, 1–20 or 1–30
- Multiplication and division, with instant feedback and answer review
- Core practice works offline after setup
Free to download · Contains ads · In-app purchases
