6 times table in real life: six-packs of drinks

Quick answer

The six times table in real life can be understood by looking at six-packs of drinks. Each six-pack has 6 cans or bottles, so 2 six-packs have 12 cans, 3 six-packs have 18 cans, and so on. This helps children learn multiplication by seeing equal groups of 6.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how the 6 times table works using six-packs of drinks, and you will be able to multiply any number by 6.

• You can count in 6s up to 72
• You can work out how many drinks are in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 six-packs
• You can use the 6 times table to solve real problems about drinks
• You can remember the 6 times table facts quickly

Why this matters

Multiplication is used in many everyday situations. When you go shopping, you might buy 3 six-packs of juice. You need to know that 3 times 6 equals 18 to know how many cans you are getting. This helps you check if you have enough money or if there are enough drinks for your friends. Learning the 6 times table with six-packs makes it easier to understand and remember. It also helps you do well in maths at school and use maths in fun ways like planning a party or making a drink recipe.

How it works

When you multiply by 6, you are making equal groups of 6. Think of a six-pack of drinks as one group of 6 cans. If you have 2 six-packs, you have 2 groups of 6 cans. That’s 6 + 6 = 12 cans. If you have 3 six-packs, you have 3 groups of 6 cans. That’s 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 cans. You can also think of it as 3 times 6 = 18. The 6 times table is just adding 6 each time. It goes like this:

1. 1 six-pack = 1 × 6 = 6 drinks
2. 2 six-packs = 2 × 6 = 12 drinks
3. 3 six-packs = 3 × 6 = 18 drinks
4. 4 six-packs = 4 × 6 = 24 drinks
5. 5 six-packs = 5 × 6 = 30 drinks
6. 6 six-packs = 6 × 6 = 36 drinks
7. 7 six-packs = 7 × 6 = 42 drinks
8. 8 six-packs = 8 × 6 = 48 drinks
9. 9 six-packs = 9 × 6 = 54 drinks
10. 10 six-packs = 10 × 6 = 60 drinks
11. 11 six-packs = 11 × 6 = 66 drinks
12. 12 six-packs = 12 × 6 = 72 drinks

Examples you can see

Imagine you are at a party and you want to know how many drinks you need. You see the drinks are sold in six-packs. Let’s look at some examples:

Example 1: If you have 4 six-packs, how many drinks are there?

4 six-packs = 4 × 6 = 24 drinks

You can imagine 4 six-packs lined up. Each one has 6 cans. So you count: 6, 12, 18, 24. That’s 24 drinks.

Example 2: If you buy 6 six-packs, how many drinks do you get?

6 six-packs = 6 × 6 = 36 drinks

You can picture 6 six-packs. Each has 6 drinks. So 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 36 drinks.

Example 3: If you have 10 six-packs, how many drinks is that?

10 six-packs = 10 × 6 = 60 drinks

Think of 10 six-packs. That’s 10 groups of 6 drinks. You can count them in 6s: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60. That’s 60 drinks.

Example 4: If you have 12 six-packs, how many drinks do you have?

12 six-packs = 12 × 6 = 72 drinks

That’s 12 groups of 6 drinks. You can imagine all 12 six-packs lined up. That’s 72 drinks total.

Try it as a mini adventure

Let’s go on a drink adventure! You are planning a picnic and want to make sure everyone gets drinks. You know that each six-pack has 6 cans. You need to figure out how many drinks you need for different numbers of people.

Adventure 1: You have 3 friends coming to your picnic. Each person wants 1 six-pack. How many drinks do you need?

3 six-packs = 3 × 6 = 18 drinks

Adventure 2: You want to give each friend 2 six-packs. How many drinks is that?

2 six-packs = 2 × 6 = 12 drinks per person

3 people × 12 drinks = 36 drinks total

Adventure 3: You have 5 six-packs. How many drinks is that?

5 six-packs = 5 × 6 = 30 drinks

Adventure 4: You want to share 60 drinks equally among 10 friends. How many drinks does each friend get?

60 drinks ÷ 10 friends = 6 drinks per friend

Adventure 5: You have 72 drinks. How many six-packs is that?

72 drinks ÷ 6 = 12 six-packs

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking that 6 × 6 = 36, but forgetting that 6 × 6 = 36
• Why it happens: Confusing multiplication with addition. It’s easy to think 6 + 6 = 12, but 6 × 6 is 6 groups of 6, which is 36.
• Fix: Use arrays or repeated addition to show 6 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 36.
• Mistake: Counting wrong when multiplying by 6
• Why it happens: Not practicing skip counting in 6s. Children might say 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72 but miss 42 or 48.
• Fix: Practice counting in 6s together and use visual aids like counters or a number line.
• Mistake: Mixing up 6 × 7 and 7 × 6
• Why it happens: Not understanding that multiplication is commutative (order doesn’t matter).
• Fix: Show that 6 × 7 = 42 and 7 × 6 = 42 using arrays or groups of drinks.

Parent and carer guide

Help your child learn the 6 times table by using six-packs of drinks. You can do this in 5-10 minutes:

• Ask your child how many drinks are in 2 six-packs, 3 six-packs, and so on.
• Use real six-packs or draw pictures of them.
• Count together in 6s, like 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72.
• Play a game where you say a number and they tell you what 6 times that number is.
• Use the 6 times table to solve problems like "If we buy 4 six-packs, how many drinks do we have?"

Don’t worry if your child gets stuck. It takes time to learn multiplication. Be patient and encourage them to keep trying. Celebrate when they get it right!

Practice questions

1. How many drinks are in 1 six-pack?
2. How many drinks are in 5 six-packs?
3. How many drinks are in 8 six-packs?
4. How many drinks are in 11 six-packs?
5. How many drinks are in 12 six-packs?

Answers:

1. 1 × 6 = 6 drinks
2. 5 × 6 = 30 drinks
3. 8 × 6 = 48 drinks
4. 11 × 6 = 66 drinks
5. 12 × 6 = 72 drinks

FAQ

What is the 6 times table?

The 6 times table is a list of multiples of 6. It shows how many drinks you get when you have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 six-packs.

How can I remember the 6 times table?

You can remember it by counting in 6s. You can also use arrays, repeated addition, or skip counting. Practicing with six-packs of drinks helps make it easier to remember.

Why is learning the 6 times table useful?

Learning the 6 times table helps you solve problems quickly, like how many drinks you need for a party or how many cans are in a certain number of six-packs. It also helps you do well in school and use maths in real life.

Can I use the 6 times table for other things?

Yes! You can use it for anything that comes in groups of 6. For example, 6 wheels on a car, 6 sides on a dice, or 6 legs on a spider (if you are counting legs).

What if I forget the 6 times table?

If you forget, you can always add 6 each time. For example, 6 × 7 is the same as 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 42. You can also count in 6s or use your fingers to help you.

6 times table facts in real life