Unlike Esa Helttula's other apps, which allow kids to practice specific skills through a no-nonsense kind of interface, Esa's latest app, for the iPad, gives kids a playground of sorts to play around with the multiplication table and its contents.

Multiplication Table is divided into four sections, each of which allow you to play around with different aspects of multiplication: Solve, Groups, Multiples, and Table.

Solve

Tap on a number in the 10 x 10 multiplication table and that number floats over to the side. Tap the column or row heads and the whole line of numbers goes over to the side. Or you can tap the gray half circle at the top of the screen and the whole grid gets cleared. This sets you up to drag the numbers back to the table one by one, placing them where they go. If you try to place a number in the wrong place, the number floats back to the side. If you put it in the correct place, it turns green and stays there. Keep going until you get the whole table filled!

Groups

Tap a number and it shows you different combinations of factors that make up that number. Tap any of the equations that result and it will show you a color representation of the multiplication problem.

Multiples

Tap any number to have that number's multiples highlighted. You can tap more than one number at once, and you can also toggle between the numbers being laid out in a spiral or in the usual grid. These are both great for seeing number patterns.

Table

This gives you an empty 10 x 10 multiplication table. Tap any space within the table and it highlights the number of dots that make up the answer for that spot, along with listing the two corresponding multiplication problems.

On any of the screens, tap the question mark for instructions.

Esa has created a video tour of the app, if you want to see it in action.

Check out my review of Esa Helttula's other apps. They are all fantastic for math learning and practice, and aren't cluttered with mini-games, incentives, or annoying music. Five of them are now universal (three of them are universal in the App Store, and two are in review at present), and more of them will follow in the future. All of these apps get two thumbs up from this GeekMom.

Multiplication Table is $3.99 in the iTunes store. I highly recommend it for any kid who is learning their multiplication tables, or who needs a more visual way to approach the subject. I also highly recommend all of Esa Helttula's math apps, also available in the iTunes store.