Square One: Nine Nine Nine

Video from the old PBS math show, Square One, called "Nine Nine Nine - Crazy Number Nine"

[@MrPisster]

I'm 34 and this song still pops into my head sometimes, hence the google search...

[@wendyokoopa7048]

MrPisster I live on floor 9 and I sing this on the elevator

[@Midwestrecycledart]

me too

[@isabelatticus4039]

Me also. First time I ever looked it up. I'm 35.

[@akeagleTL]

I'm 42, I must be young at heart

[@akeagleTL]

I had to babysit my little sister a lot

[@camilreyes8551]

Wow!!!! I'm in my 40's and used to watch this show as a kid. This specific song ALWAYS pops in my head. Never thought I'd find it on KZbin! You made my day!!!

[@IndecisiveAssassin]

Literally same story for me too! Haven’t heard this song in 30+ years and still hum it from time to time. (That and ‘Teeny Little Super Guy’ from 321 Contact) I though I’d look for it on KZbin today…the nostalgia is real.

[@kazuoyumeno1759]

Me too. To this very day the song still occasionally floats up from the back of my brain. 😆

[@kingjamez80]

Same story here! Im in my 40’s and think of this song way way too often. Taught it too my daughter who taught it to her 3rd grade class. Found it here and she finally believes me that it was a real song.

[@angelizzy8039]

Me too, just sang it to my kids and decided to check if it was online. So made my day

[@APOCALYPSE_X-MEN]

R.I.P. Reg E. Cathy 1958-2018.

[@zymaymyn]

RIP Reg E. Cathey. An amazing actor whose career was to the nines.

[@txmomthree]

Our family was a faithful fan of Square One! Thanks to KZbin, I can play episodes for my pre-school grandson. Need more of these types of programs today.

[@hannam6836]

Rest in peace, Reg E. Cathey. I just realized he passed away today on the 9th. Thanks for the math, sir.

[@brandon21880]

That's just........(cries.)

[@eugenemckinney8736]

Wow he will always be known as the 999 man

[@sweeneytoad78]

He died 2/9/18. It all came back to 9

[@eugenemckinney8736]

@@sweeneytoad78 It must've been his favorite number plus ⬛ 1 was better than Sesame street

[@LorettaMath]

On the...ninth? There are no coincidences in life. Only miracles. 🙂

[@Roarshark12]

Rest in peace Reg E. Cathy :( Aged 59, 9, 9... I always sing this song to myself. I think that out of all the Square One Television songs, this is the one that most people remember the most, it's that catchy.

[@TakaComics]

The introduction to this song was hilarious: "A little number that was a big hit for us, it's called 'Nine.' ... 5, 6, 7, 8... Nine, Nine, Nine!" Square One had some hilarious writing, and it was something I looked forward to watching as a kid, even though I hate math.

[@frostedflake25]

I’m 44 years old. It’s June 2024, and this damn song continues to live rent free in my head.

[@kevinhavensw9jyd11]

47 here. I decided to search for these songs living rent free in my head too. Even “The Mathematics Of Love” too. Mega childhood memory unlocked.

[@nathanfealko9193]

lol 44 here as well. was just teaching my son math via khan academy, and one of the questions asked about this. got the song stuck in my head.

[@TeamCavalier]

42 here. I asked the AI who sang this. My mind thought Orlando Jones. When I realized it was Reg, I was heartbroken that he passed.

[@brooklynbred]

I learned this method when I was a kid from this song. I am now 35 and teach it to my kids. WHERE ARE THE SHOWS LIKE THIS TODAY?

[@aWhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Wish this show was run on netflix

[@brandon21880]

Exactly. If PBS is really struggling, they need to work out a deal with Netflix.

[@funforalgernon]

Wish it was anywhere! Thank goodness to the good people who’ve shared their old recordings on KZbin.

[@reinabella23]

This episode aired on my 9th birthday and it was so awesome. I still think of it from time to time too.

[@tommyokeefe6343]

42 years old, I think about this song all the time but couldn't remember what show it came from. Glad I found it!

[@bentong1940]

Good night Reg, you helped make my childhood something special.

[@junbh2]

I still get this song stuck in my head every once in a while decades later... I also for years used the related trick for the nine times tables up to 9x10, where you hold up both hands and fold down the nth finger to multiply 9 by n. The fingers to the left of the lowered finger will be the 10s column and to the right will be the ones column.

[@hayalllivn]

I watched the original presentation of this little ditty with my daughter when she was a wee one. I asked her the other night if she remembered the Nine-Nine-Nine song and she said yes. I proceeded to try and find it, but with no luck. She apparently could not let it go..today she sent this to me. I loved it then, and I love it now. I think she does as well.

[@wendyokoopa7048]

ywd2009 I still sing it especially now that I'm on floor 9

[@jazzmanalpha1]

RIP Reg E Cathey

[@realekedolphin]

342 likes. 3+4+2 = 9! This song helped me even in college.

[@nathantaylor7026]

Nine downvotes... Wow, it really does all come back to nine.

[@escottish140]

This song helped me with my elementary school tests. I still get this song stuck in my head. I miss shows like this. Kids today are missing out.

[@Orenotter]

This works for any base you're working in, as long as you're multiplying by one less than the base. If you were to count in base 12, it would work for eleven.

[@DuetJay]

Eight eight eight ... fantastic number eight... Use base nine to do this trick, and it will still work great ... eight eight eight .. fantastic number eight ... times any number -- honest, mate -- will all come back to eight. 8 x 2 is 16, or in base nine, one-seven. 8 x 3 is 24, or in base nine two-six. 8 x 4 is 32, or in base nine three-five. 8 x 5 is 40, or in base nine four-four. I know I'm at this party late, but it still comes back to eight. (spoken) But what about large numbers? How about 8 x 32900? Oh, you can't do that, there's no "9" in base 9! Okay you got me, how about 8 x 14326? Well, that's a stumper. 8 times 14326 is 114,608. In base 9 that's 184182 1 + 8 + 4 + 1 + 8 + 2 in base nine is two-six, and two plus six is eight! See, it always works! (sung) It all comes back to eight!

[@gerekbraden2983]

@@DuetJay Fantastic number eight? This was great mate!!

[@acs1789]

I loved this show as a child of the 80's. I still remember this song well.

[@Bassotronics]

Square one TV had a lot of awesome songs and this was one of my favorites.

[@nickbell8353]

Reg E. Cathy died today. RIP

[@blackwidowcult]

i'm so glad i clicked on the link in that math assignment

[@Dinoenthusiastguy]

McGill?

[@cmulwee001]

"Times any number you can find, it all comes back to nine!!" Great line!

[@puremercury]

RIP Reg E. Cathey

[@thecarlhafer]

Thanks for posting this! I've been singing this for years, but no one I sang it to ever remembered it. This has confirmed to me that I'm not insane, and I didn't make it up.

[@Eiuol81853]

This must where Herman Cain got his idea from.

[@Nishala8]

I want to like this comment, but you have 9 likes and it was 9 years ago, so Imma leave it alone 😄 Hope you are doing well

[@Trubbish26]

Last night I filled up my gas tank, and the meter stopped at 15.999 gallons. Guess what song popped in my head, over three decades later 😂

[@Ch33s3r]

I hadn't seen this in about 15 years and i found myself still remembering the song and singing it to myself at random times lol

[@HollyLetson]

This is one of my favorite **Square One** songs.

[@catsmeow5566]

Man, I loved Square One TV! Been a looong time since I've seen any clips.

[@hamsterama]

This song has been popping in and out of my head over the past 15 years, and I'm so glad to see that someone's uploaded it onto KZbin. It's really fascinating that any two numbers you multiply together had a nine connection.

[@darrenthornton8299]

Who else wishes this show was back on the air? The song would have been great for Herman Cain's campaign. He actually made sense. RIP Reg E. Cathey.

[@davekurtz769]

Square one tv was a staple of my upbringing watched it in Hamilton Ontario from my pbs station wned channel 17 from buffalo New York

[@sariahsue]

Wow. The flashbacks! I haven't seen this in eons and I still remember the tune, and even some of the words.

[@Vook]

Is there anyone here who remembers this from their childhood, and is watching it now after having played the game "999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors"? The digital root of any number divisible by 9 is always 9. :D

[@quercusquercus532]

My niece just turned 9. I taught her. Stoked for 6 years from now, when I get to tell her about that crazy number F.

[@Nightmarez013]

I've been singing this song in my head for YEARS since I was a kid. Awesome post!

[@ScratStitch]

RIP Reg E. Cathey.

[@mbenzsl2000]

Is that Reg Cathey? Lol, man. Great show.

[@stephanierossi2586]

Yep is Reg,

[@craigcreative1796]

I immediately thought of this song when I heard he passed away. Rest in Heaven. This song always helped me in math class!

[@myrnaloy1025]

I remember watching this in third grade. I still use this song to double check my math. “It all comes back to 9!”

[@myrnaloy1025]

*why does this math work by the way?*

[@jacobtennyson9213]

Nine times tables is so unique you can plug in every answer from the multiples of 9 and answer will be reduced to 9.

[@coolbluelights]

This helped me a lot when I was struggling to learn multiplication back in 3rd grade

[@wendyokoopa7048]

coolbluelights thanks pbs

[@rscaito1]

And what age do most people turn while in 3rd grade? 9, how appropriate!

[@Magnero]

Every once in a while this song will pop in my head when it's quiet. It has done so since I heard it for the first time probably 25 years ago. I will have my revenge on who ever wrote this song!

[@Netwirq2]

RIP Reg E. Cathey. Thank you for helping me with my multiplication :-). This was the memorable song when it came to 9. Thank you and god bless 0:-).

[@Boricua3lions1985]

Brilliant memories. I still remember the first time I saw this in the early '90's. And I'm 27 now.

[@medboy78]

Yo ! I don't care what anyone says this song made me feel so damn smart in math class when I was in Grade 5. I remember after seeing this one afternoon, the next day in Math class I would told my Math teacher that 9 was special number when multiple it by a number because the digits of the sum would equal to 9. I felt so smart that day lol.

[@sararkd]

Nostalgic! I thought i'll never hear it again.

[@haroldalexis4200]

I never forgot those wonderful songs SQUARE ONE TELEVISION 📺.Even when this show ended I never forgot REG E. CATHEY. No matter where he starred in I always remembered SQUARE ONE TELEVISION.... Yes he was on Law & Order Criminal intent as an undercover cop! 🤔

[@Motionedout]

Moderator: Mr. Cain, he mentioned your plan, would you care to respond in song? Cain: Yes...yes, I would.

[@CyberKnightt]

That crazy number 9! This song still plays in my head every time I do any kind of math that involves nine. For some reason I hear it in Paul Brandt's voice, he'd do it some justice haha!

[@solrebel7]

I loved this show

[@MurasakiYugata]

I actually never fully memorized my times tables, so this song has been helpful to me for years. Very catchy too.

[@salemwsr]

9X3487...that part makes me lol every time.

[@parlet]

It's good to see that I'm not the only one that will remember this song for life!

[@xm0rtal]

This song plays in my head forever

[@IvanStrelnikov]

I started searching for Mr. Wizard, then i remembered Square 1. This song has been with me for 20 years, and the principle illustrated within has actually proved very handy. I'm gonna sit my little brother in front of this as soon as i can.

[@RebelLeigh]

I still sing this sometimes and i am in my 40s

[@francispiche1474]

When I clicked this link on my math assignment I expected an explanation of the question. I've never been so pleasantly bamboozled.

[@crusader037972]

I have been looking for this for over 20 years!

[@schalkespringer]

+Paul Plume Me too! It's been my head since I was a kid decades ago *L*

[@aristerabibliophile5033]

Omg, me too. Since the days of Mathnet!!!!!!

[@sleepingspaceman]

I hear this song in my head from time to time. I NEEDED to hear it today, thanks to WannaMillion for the post. You helped quench my brain fart.

[@ddthewolf]

This is probably the song I remember the most from the show!

[@zythr9999]

Sign of the Times

[@Bassotronics]

Best song about the number 9 that ever exists.

[@Josh_MC_TN]

This song is how I ALWAYS killed my 9's times tables!

[@adennak8745]

Holy crap. I've had this song stuck in my head for about twenty-five years.

[@mitchelltrio]

Me, too! I am so glad to see this again!

[@AppleofHisEye23]

I love the number 9 😄 and I love math!

[@AmyAnnLand]

My childhood. I've never forgotten the lyrics in 30 years.

[@TeamCavalier]

This made me cry.

[@soseztheleadr]

My favorite song out of this whole series.

[@tkayube]

315 likes. 3+1+5=9!

[@podcastbard]

this is one of my favorite square one songs. There is another pattern to Nine that also proves its a repeater. Watch the video again and look at the answers. :)

[@chrisrj9871]

I saw this in elementary, thought it was cool, and decided it was my favorite number :-D

[@vergas115]

i still sing this song when i have to multiply by nine! now i can share this with my students thanks for posting!

[@KororaPenguin]

I actually burst out into this song in fourth grade math class.

[@nickrussell3028]

I remember learning this before I entered 4th grade in 1994. I tell people about this equation sometimes.

[@orangehornet57]

This should have been Herman Cain's campaign song. RIP Reg E. Cathy.

[@erinjaneln]

This is show is how i knew all my multiplication facts before 3rd grade!

[@michaelt977]

no,herman cain is not the square one tv candidate.

[@comorbid]

Nope. If I'm not mistaken, this is Reginald Cathey. Sho'nuff was played by the late Julius Carry. He DID, however play Dirty Dee in Pootie Tang.

[@russellcastine2914]

This is one reason why 9 is my favorite number. Did you know that if you wrote the first ten multiples of 9 vertically, the tens would go 1,2,3,4 etc., white the ones would go 9,8,7,6 etc. Try doing that with mulitples of 4 or 7!

[@thebutcher5032]

Memories!

[@Boricua3lions1985]

I love it. I remember this from when I was a kid as well. It's true, 9 works all the time.

[@cooljoescott]

Man I miss this

[@jj1oo2ee3]

i absolutely loved this show so any clip i see gets a five star. also this song illustrates the reason why nine is my favorite number. why is this on noggin my noggin kid isnt even near multiplication yet.

[@Thvndar]

I

[@shtooley]

I will never forget this. the reason I know the 9 times table to this day! LOL!

[@rorygrennan7347]

Was compelled to add the 153rd comment because, of course, 1+5+3 is 9. RIP Reg E. Cathey, may he find his way #BackToNine in the next world.

[@rscaito1]

I once sang this song to, appropriately, a 9-year-old, to teach this concept, no joke.

[@HollyLetson]

To this day,I remember this. Makes multiplying by 9 super easy.

[@sweeneytoad78]

He died 2/9/18. It all came back to 9

[@mattstan]

I loved this show when I was a kid. Too bad there weren't also wacky PBS shows about multi-variable calculus or number theory, or my overachieving days might have lasted beyond middle school...

[@psycho04]

omg!! i sooo remember this song!! this song taught me abt the magical property of nine!!

[@5TailFox]

You're goddamned right it always works...

[@mindyj77]

omg. i totally remember all the words to this song.

[@gremlintown]

@sirhatchporch glad to know I wasnt the only one who spent saturday mornings watching PBS ^_^

[@MIKESOWELL]

This brings back memories....lol.