X Tables
Times Table Methods

How to learn 7 × 8

Use neighbour facts, stories and arrays to remember 56.

Quick answer

7 × 8 = 56 – you can learn this by using neighbour facts, arrays, and stories to help you remember.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will know how to remember 7 × 8 using helpful tricks and examples, so you can solve it quickly and confidently. Success signs:
  • You can say 7 × 8 = 56 without counting.
  • You can show 7 × 8 using objects or drawings.
  • You can use a neighbour fact to help you remember 7 × 8.
  • You can solve a problem that uses 7 × 8.

Why this matters

Knowing your times tables helps you do maths faster and easier. When you know 7 × 8 = 56, you can solve bigger problems quickly, like sharing 56 cookies among 7 friends or working out how many wheels are on 8 cars. You’ll use this skill in real life, in games, and in school. It helps you understand money, time, and how many things you have when they come in groups.

How it works

To learn 7 × 8, we can use a few helpful tricks: 1. Use neighbour facts – We already know 7 × 7 = 49. So 7 × 8 is just one more group of 7. That means 49 + 7 = 56. 2. Use arrays – An array is a way to show groups in rows and columns. If you draw 7 rows with 8 items in each row, you can count all the items to get 56. 3. Use a story – You can imagine 7 groups of 8 toys. For example, 7 toy cars with 8 wheels each. That makes 56 wheels in total. 4. Use repeated addition – 7 × 8 means 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7. That’s 8 groups of 7, which adds up to 56.

Examples you can see

Let’s look at some ways to think about 7 × 8. Example 1: Using neighbour facts We know that 7 × 7 = 49. So 7 × 8 is just one more group of 7. 49 + 7 = 56 Example 2: Using arrays Imagine you have 7 rows of 8 apples: Row 1: 8 apples Row 2: 8 apples Row 3: 8 apples Row 4: 8 apples Row 5: 8 apples Row 6: 8 apples Row 7: 8 apples That’s 7 rows of 8 apples = 56 apples. Example 3: Using repeated addition 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 56 Example 4: Real-world example – Party planning You are planning a party. You want to give 7 bags of sweets to each of 8 friends. How many sweets do you need? Each friend gets 7 bags, and there are 8 friends. So 7 × 8 = 56 sweets.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Magic Number 56 You are a treasure hunter, and you find a chest with a riddle: “I am a number that is 7 groups of 8. I am the number of stars on a flag or the number of legs on 8 spiders. What number am I?” To solve the riddle, you must find 7 × 8 = 56. You can also try: - 4th time: Draw 7 rows with 8 stars in each row. - 5th time: Count all the stars in your drawing. - 6th time: Write 7 × 8 = 56. Can you solve the riddle and unlock the treasure?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 7 × 8 = 42 Why it happens: Confusing 7 × 8 with 6 × 7 = 42 Fix: Use neighbour facts: 7 × 7 = 49, so 7 × 8 = 49 + 7 = 56
  • Mistake: Counting by 7s instead of 8s Why it happens: Not reading the question carefully Fix: Make sure you know how many groups there are and how many are in each group
  • Mistake: Forgetting that 7 × 8 = 56 Why it happens: Not practising enough Fix: Use arrays, stories, or neighbour facts to help you remember

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, here’s how you can help your child learn 7 × 8: 1. Use neighbour facts – If your child knows 7 × 7 = 49, you can help them think: “One more group of 7 makes 56.” 2. Draw arrays – Ask your child to draw 7 rows with 8 items in each row. Count together to make it fun. 3. Use real-life examples – Think about 7 × 8 = 56 in everyday life: 7 friends, 8 sweets each = 56 sweets. 4. Play games – Try a quick game where you say a times table and your child says the answer. Or use flashcards. 5. Don’t worry about speed – It’s okay to count or use tricks at first. The goal is to learn and understand.

Practice questions

  1. What is 7 × 8?
  2. Use a neighbour fact to solve: 7 × 7 = 49, so 7 × 8 = ?
  3. Draw 7 rows with 8 stars in each row. How many stars are there?
  4. There are 7 boxes, and each box has 8 toys. How many toys are there in total?
  5. Write 7 × 8 = ?
Answers:
  1. 56
  2. 56
  3. 56
  4. 56
  5. 56

FAQ

What is 7 × 8? 7 × 8 = 56.

How can I remember 7 × 8? You can use neighbour facts (7 × 7 = 49, so 7 × 8 = 56), arrays (7 rows of 8), or stories (7 groups of 8).

Why is 7 × 8 = 56 important? It helps you solve bigger maths problems quickly, like sharing items or working out how many things you have in groups.

Can I use repeated addition to find 7 × 8? Yes! 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 56.

What are some real-life examples of 7 × 8? For example, 7 friends each get 8 sweets, or 7 rows of 8 chairs in a classroom.

7 × n Answer
7 × 0 0
7 × 1 7
7 × 2 14
7 × 3 21
7 × 4 28
7 × 5 35
7 × 6 42
7 × 7 49
7 × 8 56
7 × 9 63
7 × 10 70
7 × 11 77
7 × 12 84