Although modern technology gives us ready access to a calculator in our pockets via our mobile phones and tablets, knowing your multiplication times tables by memorising them the traditional way is still as important and helpful as ever. Here’s why:
Multiplication is used in High School Mathematics like algebra and calculus.
Knowing your multiplication times tables will therefore make algebra and calculus much easier to learn.

Multiplication is often used when working with fractions
Knowing your multiplication may make tasks like adding two fractions together, much simpler.

Example 1: Find the Lowest Common Denominator by multiplying the denominators.
The denominator is 3 × 2 = 6
1/3+1/2=

Example 2: Multiply the top and bottom of each fraction by the opposite denominator
(2/2)×1/3+1/2×(3/3)=2/6+3/6

Example 3: Add the numerators and keep the denominators the same.
2/6+3/6=5/6

Multiplication is the fastest way to calculate doubles, or triples.
This is helpful when cooking with family and friends and you want to make more than what the recipe allows for.

Example: Mum wants to make 12 muffins but the recipe only makes 4 muffins. How many times do you need to increase the ingredients to make 12 muffins? You would need to multiply all the ingredients by 3 to make enough for 12 muffins.
Multiplication is one way to manually calculate cost.

Example: You want to buy 3 gifts for your friends. Each gift costs $8. What will the total cost be for the 3 gifts? You multiply $8 by 3 to get $24. You could try $8 + $8 + $8 and get the same answer, but it’s much faster to do multiplication instead.

Multiplication is used in most professions.
Engineers, architects and builders use multiplication to calculate measurements when designing and constructing buildings and infrastructure.
Pilots and astronauts use multiplication alongside very high level Mathematics to calculate measurements and co-ordinates when flying a plane or rocket.
Doctors and vets use multiplication to calculate the exact dose of medicine required to heal their patients. If the dose is too high, they patient may get sicker, and if too low, they may not get well.
Accountants and business owners use multiplication when working with business financials, budgets and forecasts.

So next time you reach into your pocket for your mobile phone and tablet calculator to multiple something, give it a try the traditional way using your multiplication times tables.