What is the easiest way to teach someone the multipucation tables?

Question

what is the easiest way to learn them? how did you learn them? thanks for any advise.

Answer 1

at first, at least with the smaller values, i think the easiest way is to just memorize them.  after awhile, once someone has a good feel for numbers, he will be able to break down larger multiplication problems into a few smaller problems that involve only the multiplication values on a typical 12 x 12 or 15 x 15 multiplication table... i.e., 12*18 = 12*10 + 12*8 = 120 + 96 = 216.  

Answer 2

Unfortunately, memorization is about it.

However, some are easier than others -- 2, 5, 10, etc. So teach to "count by" those. Then 3 and 4.

Then there is a head start on the others, since one already knows (for example) 2*7, 5*7, 10*7, etc.