Multiplication Table of 3
The multiplication table of 3 tells us what we get when we add 3 again and again. Knowing the table of 3 helps you count faster and solve many kinds of problems.
If you can skip count by 3 — that is, say 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30 — you already know the table of 3! Multiplication is just a faster way to write repeated addition.
In our daily life, many things come in groups of 3. A triangle has 3 sides, a traffic signal has 3 lights, and an auto-rickshaw has 3 wheels. The table of 3 helps you count all of these quickly.
What is Multiplication Table of 3 - Class 2 Maths (Multiplication Introduction)?
Multiplication means adding the same number many times. The table of 3 shows the answers when we multiply 3 by the numbers 1 to 10.
| Multiplication | As Repeated Addition | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 3 × 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 3 × 2 | 3 + 3 | 6 |
| 3 × 3 | 3 + 3 + 3 | 9 |
| 3 × 4 | 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 | 12 |
| 3 × 5 | 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 | 15 |
| 3 × 6 | 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 | 18 |
| 3 × 7 | 3 added 7 times | 21 |
| 3 × 8 | 3 added 8 times | 24 |
| 3 × 9 | 3 added 9 times | 27 |
| 3 × 10 | 3 added 10 times | 30 |
Pattern to notice: Each answer is 3 more than the previous answer. The ones digits follow a repeating cycle: 3, 6, 9, 2, 5, 8, 1, 4, 7, 0.
Types and Properties
Three ways to understand the table of 3:
- Repeated addition: 3 × 4 means 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. You add 3 a total of 4 times.
- Skip counting: Start at 0 and count by 3s on a number line — 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30. The 4th number you say is 12, which is 3 × 4.
- Equal groups: If you have 5 bags with 3 apples in each bag, the total is 3 × 5 = 15 apples. Each bag is one equal group of 3.
Tip for learning: Say the table out loud every day. You can also write it 5 times in your notebook. The more you practise, the faster you will remember.
Solved Examples
Example 1: Using Repeated Addition
Question: What is 3 × 5?
Think:
- 3 × 5 means add 3 five times
- 3 + 3 = 6
- 6 + 3 = 9
- 9 + 3 = 12
- 12 + 3 = 15
Answer: 3 × 5 = 15
Example 2: Groups of Objects
Question: Ria has 4 bags. Each bag has 3 pencils inside it. How many pencils does Ria have in all?
Think:
- There are 4 bags
- Each bag has 3 pencils
- Total pencils = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 3 × 4 = 12
Answer: Ria has 12 pencils in all.
Example 3: Skip Counting on a Number Line
Question: What is 3 × 6? Use a number line to find the answer.
Think: Start at 0 and make 6 jumps of 3:
0 —(+3)→ 3 —(+3)→ 6 —(+3)→ 9 —(+3)→ 12 —(+3)→ 15 —(+3)→ 18
After 6 jumps, we land on 18.
Answer: 3 × 6 = 18
Example 4: Word Problem — Auto-Rickshaw Wheels
Question: An auto-rickshaw has 3 wheels. Kavi sees 7 auto-rickshaws at the stand. How many wheels are there in all?
Think:
- Each auto-rickshaw has 3 wheels
- There are 7 auto-rickshaws
- Total wheels = 3 × 7 = 21
Answer: The 7 auto-rickshaws have 21 wheels in all.
Example 5: Word Problem — Chapatis for the Week
Question: Aman eats 3 chapatis every day for dinner. How many chapatis does he eat in 8 days?
Think:
- Chapatis per day = 3
- Number of days = 8
- Total chapatis = 3 × 8 = 24
Answer: Aman eats 24 chapatis in 8 days.
Example 6: Fill in the Blank
Question: 3 × ___ = 27. Find the missing number.
Think:
- We need to find which number times 3 gives 27
- Skip count by 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27
- We counted 9 numbers to reach 27
Answer: 3 × 9 = 27
Example 7: Word Problem — Flower Rows
Question: Dev plants flowers in 10 rows. Each row has 3 flowers. How many flowers did Dev plant?
Think:
- Number of rows = 10
- Flowers per row = 3
- Total flowers = 3 × 10 = 30
Answer: Dev planted 30 flowers in all.
Example 8: Comparing with the Table of 2
Question: Priya knows that 2 × 6 = 12. Can she use this to find 3 × 6?
Think:
- 3 × 6 = (2 × 6) + (1 × 6)
- = 12 + 6
- = 18
Answer: Yes! 3 × 6 = 18. The table of 3 is the table of 2 plus one more group.
Real-World Applications
Where do we use the table of 3 in daily life?
- Counting wheels: Auto-rickshaws and tricycles have 3 wheels each. To find total wheels, multiply by 3.
- Counting sides: Triangles have 3 sides. If there are 8 triangles, total sides = 3 × 8 = 24.
- Time: 3 months make one quarter of a year. There are 4 quarters (of 3 months each) in a year.
- Food: If each plate gets 3 rotis, the table of 3 tells you how many rotis you need for any number of plates.
- Cricket: In a 3-over match, total balls = 3 × 6 = 18 balls.
Key Points to Remember
- 3 × 1 = 3 and 3 × 10 = 30. The table starts at 3 and goes up by 3 each time.
- The table of 3 is the same as skip counting by 3.
- 3 × any number = that number added 3 times (or 3 added that many times).
- The ones digits in the table of 3 follow a repeating pattern: 3, 6, 9, 2, 5, 8, 1, 4, 7, 0.
- The order of multiplication does not matter: 3 × 4 = 4 × 3 = 12. This is called the commutative property.
- Knowing the table of 3 helps with division by 3 when you learn division later.
Practice Problems
- What is 3 × 4? Show it as repeated addition.
- Neha buys 6 packets of biscuits. Each packet has 3 biscuits. How many biscuits does she have in all?
- Fill in the blank: 3 × ___ = 21
- What is 3 × 9?
- There are 5 tricycles in a park. Each tricycle has 3 wheels. How many wheels are there in total?
- Write the complete table of 3 from 3 × 1 to 3 × 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the multiplication table of 3?
The table of 3 shows the products of 3 multiplied by numbers 1 to 10: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30. Each answer is 3 more than the previous one.
Q2. How can I learn the table of 3 easily?
Skip count by 3 on your fingers or on a number line. Say the numbers out loud every day: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30. You can also clap and count in threes, or write the table 5 times daily.
Q3. What is 3 times 7?
3 × 7 = 21. You can verify by adding: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 21.
Q4. Is 3 × 4 the same as 4 × 3?
Yes. Both give 12. In multiplication, the order does not change the answer. This is called the commutative property of multiplication.
Q5. What pattern do the ones digits follow in the table of 3?
The ones digits cycle through: 3, 6, 9, 2, 5, 8, 1, 4, 7, 0. This ten-digit pattern repeats for 3 × 11, 3 × 12, and so on.
Q6. How is the table of 3 useful in daily life?
It helps in counting things that come in threes — like wheels on a tricycle (3), sides of a triangle (3), traffic signal lights (3), or meals in a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Q7. What comes after 3 × 10 in the table of 3?
3 × 11 = 33 and 3 × 12 = 36. You just keep adding 3 each time to extend the table.
Q8. How is the table of 3 related to the table of 2?
The table of 3 is the table of 2 plus one extra group. For example, 3 × 5 = (2 × 5) + 5 = 10 + 5 = 15. You can always add one more group to the table of 2 to get the table of 3.
