Quote Originally Posted by Edwina's Secretary
Karen...did anyone every show you a hand trick for your 9x tables?

Hold your hands out, palms down. Starting from the left...count off how many times 9 you need. For example...3 X 9...count to the third finger. Put that finger down....look at your hands and there will be two fingers..space seven fingers....27. Four times 9....count to the fourth finger, curl it under and you have 3 fingers...space... 6 fingers ....36!

My stepson taught me this!
Wow, I have never seen that! I always had to make the horrible table in school. I'm sitting here at work trying every number x 9!

For some reason I can't caluclate in my head at all. I use my fingers all the time, and for more advanced math I need a calculator. I understand, and can memorize, formulas and how things work, but numbers in my head become a big jumble.

The sad part about not being able to calculate mentally is that I'm an analyst for a living.. so I always have a calculator or note pad if a work question might have a remote chance of being asked.