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A multiplication table, by Adam Ries (1490s-1559)

18th century version of Napier's bones, a calculation device similar to an abacus

A multiplication table is a tool used to learn how to multiply two numbers. The oldest known multiplication tables were written by the Babylonians about 4000 years ago. Many people think it is important to know how to multiply two numbers by heart, usually up to 12 × 12, 30 × 30, 50 × 50, or 100 × 100.