Formulas, tables and dates — Memory techniques for students

Memory tip

Patterns beat cramming — “understand the why and the pattern, and you can rebuild it”

1. Smart: know what each letter is, see where it comes from, use it in a few sums, a formula card, test yourself weekly.
2. Weak: copy it 50 times blindly, cram it the last night, never use it in sums, skip what letters mean.
3. The 9s trick: for 9 × n, the tens digit is n − 1 and the ones digit is 10 − n: 9 × 7 → 6 and 3 → 63.

Use it for: Maths and science formulas, times tables, history dates and units.

Worked example: ✋ The 9s trick: for 9 × 9, the tens digit is 9 − 1 and the ones digit is 10 − 9. What is 9 × 9? → 81

✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

🏁 Lesson 23 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the 📐 Formula Keeper badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 6 lessons of Part 4 · Study habits. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Memory Techniques Worksheet: Formulas and Tables

• Worksheet set 1 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 2 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 3 (PDF)