Times tables to 5 bingo
Times tables to 5 bingo uses 25 problems (every product a × b with a and b from 1 to 5), whose 14 different answers fill 3x3 cards. The caller reads "3 × 5", players mark 15. With 30 cards a line falls by call 4, so play for a full card (first one at call 15).
2 | 15 | 9 |
8 | 4 | 1 |
12 | 3 | 20 |
The caller reads a problem; players mark its answer. 25 problems, 14 answers.
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Caller sheet
Every call in a shuffled order. Tick each one as you read it out; the same share link always gives the same order.
Updated
Times tables to 5 at a glance
| What is called | 25 problems: every product a × b with a and b from 1 to 5 |
|---|---|
| What is on the cards | 14 answers, from 1 to 25 |
| Recommended card | 3x3: 9 answers per card |
| Different cards possible | 726,485,760 (14 answers placed in 9 squares) |
| Typical level | Grade 2-3 |
| Problems per answer | 1 to 3 |
Answer key: every times tables to 5 problem by answer
25 calls, 14 squares. First marked = (25 + 1) ÷ (problems + 1), the average call at which the answer is reached in a shuffled game.
| Answer | Problems the caller reads | Problems | First marked (avg. call) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 × 1 | 1 | 13 |
| 2 | 1 × 2, 2 × 1 | 2 | 8.7 |
| 3 | 1 × 3, 3 × 1 | 2 | 8.7 |
| 4 | 1 × 4, 2 × 2, 4 × 1 | 3 | 6.5 |
| 5 | 1 × 5, 5 × 1 | 2 | 8.7 |
| 6 | 2 × 3, 3 × 2 | 2 | 8.7 |
| 8 | 2 × 4, 4 × 2 | 2 | 8.7 |
| 9 | 3 × 3 | 1 | 13 |
| 10 | 2 × 5, 5 × 2 | 2 | 8.7 |
| 12 | 3 × 4, 4 × 3 | 2 | 8.7 |
| 15 | 3 × 5, 5 × 3 | 2 | 8.7 |
| 16 | 4 × 4 | 1 | 13 |
| 20 | 4 × 5, 5 × 4 | 2 | 8.7 |
| 25 | 5 × 5 | 1 | 13 |
Self-check: times tables to 5 answers
- 1 × 1 = 1, and 1 ÷ 1 = 1
- 2 × 1 = 2, and 2 ÷ 1 = 2
- 3 × 1 = 3, and 3 ÷ 1 = 3
- 2 × 2 = 4, and 4 ÷ 2 = 2
- 1 × 5 = 5, and 5 ÷ 5 = 1
- 3 × 2 = 6, and 6 ÷ 2 = 3
- 4 × 2 = 8, and 8 ÷ 2 = 4
- 3 × 3 = 9, and 9 ÷ 3 = 3
- 5 × 2 = 10, and 10 ÷ 2 = 5
- 3 × 5 = 15, and 15 ÷ 5 = 3
- 4 × 4 = 16, and 16 ÷ 4 = 4
- 4 × 5 = 20, and 20 ÷ 5 = 4
- 5 × 5 = 25, and 25 ÷ 5 = 5
Why some times tables to 5 squares fill first
The 25 problems in times tables to 5 bingo produce only 14 different answers, 1.8 problems per answer on average. 4 is reached by 3 problems; 1, 9, 16 and 25 by 1 problem only.
So squares are not equal: an answer with 3 problems is first marked around call 6.5, one with 1 around call 13. After 6 calls, 4 has a 58% chance of being marked against 24% for 1.
4 answers can only be marked by a single problem, while 4 has 3. For a fairer game, call one problem per answer (14 calls) or accept that cards holding 4 tend to win first; both are fine for practice, as long as players know.
How long a times tables to 5 game lasts
300 simulated times tables to 5 games (3x3, any line wins): 1 card needed 8 calls (median), 10 cards 4, 30 cards 4, with 8 in 10 games between call 3 and 5.
A class of 30 playing times tables to 5 bingo uses 16% of the 25 calls per game, so one caller sheet covers about 6 games; 3x3 cards from 14 answers overlap so much that lines fall almost at once, so play for a full card (all 9 squares) instead, which took a median of 15 calls with 30 cards.
How to play times tables to 5 bingo in class
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Show what can appear
Write the 14 possible answers on the board (1, 2, 3, 4 … 25); numbers in between such as 7, 11 and 13 never appear on a card. Then model 4 × 4 = 16.
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Hand out the cards
Print 3x3 times tables to 5 cards: 9 of the 14 answers (1 to 25) each, 64% coverage.
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Read the problem, not the answer
Call "5 × 2", pause, then the next. 4 has 3 problems, so its square fills early.
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Check every bingo
Read back the called problems; the winner names each answer (4 × 4 → 16). 30 cards: first bingo near call 4.
Example calls from this set
Four problems drawn from the times tables to 5 caller sheet and the square each one marks.
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The caller reads 2 × 5
Mark 10 (also reached by 5 × 2)
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The caller reads 3 × 3
Mark 9 (the only problem with this answer)
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The caller reads 1 × 4
Mark 4 (also reached by 2 × 2 and 4 × 1)
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The caller reads 1 × 5
Mark 5 (also reached by 5 × 1)
Frequently asked questions
How many problems are in times tables to 5 bingo?
25 problems (every product a × b with a and b from 1 to 5), with 14 different answers. The caller sheet lists all 25; the cards show only the answers.
What size card works best for times tables to 5?
3x3. A card needs 9 different answers and the times tables to 5 set has 14 (1 to 25), so a 3x3 card is the largest that fits. That still allows 726,485,760 different cards.
Which answer comes up most often?
4: 1 × 4, 2 × 2 and 4 × 1 all mark it (3 problems). Its square is first marked around call 6.5 on average, against call 13 for an answer with 1 problem.
How many calls until someone wins?
In 300 simulated times tables to 5 games with 30 3x3 cards, the first line was completed after a median of 4 calls; with 10 cards after 4 calls.
Related
More math bingo
- Halves of even numbers to 20 10 problems · 10 answers · 3x3
- Halves of even numbers to 50 25 problems · 25 answers · 5x5