diff --git a/js/common/view/table/MultiplicationTableNode.js b/js/common/view/table/MultiplicationTableNode.js
index 9870d150..2abe4052 100644
--- a/js/common/view/table/MultiplicationTableNode.js
+++ b/js/common/view/table/MultiplicationTableNode.js
@@ -45,10 +45,11 @@ define( function( require ) {
    * @param {Array} levelModels - Array of descriptions for each level.
    * @param {Array} answerSheet - 2D array that tracks problems that have and haven't been answered
    * @param {boolean} animateAnswer - flag that controls whether answer appears to fly into the cell or just appears
+   * @param {boolean} pointerUsedInCells - flag that indicates whether the cells need to support a pointer finger when highlighted
    *
    * @constructor
    */
-  function MultiplicationTableNode( levelProperty, stateProperty, levelModels, answerSheet, animateAnswer ) {
+  function MultiplicationTableNode( levelProperty, stateProperty, levelModels, answerSheet, animateAnswer, pointerUsedInCells ) {
     var self = this;
     Node.call( this );
 
@@ -114,7 +115,11 @@ define( function( require ) {
               self.cells[ levelIndex ][ i ][ j ] = new MultiplierTableHeaderCell( i.toString(), buttonOptions );
             }
             else {
-              self.cells[ levelIndex ][ i ][ j ] = new MultiplierTableBodyCell( ( i * j ).toString(), buttonOptions );
+              self.cells[ levelIndex ][ i ][ j ] = new MultiplierTableBodyCell(
+                ( i * j ).toString(),
+                pointerUsedInCells,
+                buttonOptions
+              );
             }
             hBoxChildren.push( self.cells[ levelIndex ][ i ][ j ] );
           }
diff --git a/js/common/view/table/MultiplierTableBodyCell.js b/js/common/view/table/MultiplierTableBodyCell.js
index a48722f2..c6ffb355 100644
--- a/js/common/view/table/MultiplierTableBodyCell.js
+++ b/js/common/view/table/MultiplierTableBodyCell.js
@@ -26,30 +26,30 @@ define( function( require ) {
   //TODO: The options should either be consolidated or renamed, since the API makes it such that they can't both be optional.
   /**
    * @param {Text} contentText - Text label for button.
+   * @param {boolean} pointerUsed - Flag that indicates whether the point hand should be available in this cell.
    * @param {Object} backgroundOptions - Background options for button.
    * @param {Object} textOptions - Text options for button.
    *
    * @constructor
    */
-  function MultiplierTableBodyCell( contentText, backgroundOptions, textOptions ) {
+  function MultiplierTableBodyCell( contentText, pointerUsed, backgroundOptions, textOptions ) {
     backgroundOptions = _.extend( {
       fill: NORMAL_COLOR
     }, backgroundOptions );
     AbstractCell.call( this, backgroundOptions, textOptions );
 
-    // create pointer for active state
-    // TODO: Seems inefficient and unnecessary that there is an image node created for every cell when they are not used
-    // for the multiply and divide screens.  Consider having either an option for whether the pointer is used or a pool
-    // of pointers for the various sized needed.  Or both.
-    this._pointer = new Image( pointingHandImage, { visible: false } );
+    if ( pointerUsed ) {
+      // create pointer for active state
+      this._pointer = new Image( pointingHandImage, { visible: false } );
 
-    // set position and size for pointer
-    this._pointer.scale( backgroundOptions.width / this._pointer.getWidth() * 0.75, backgroundOptions.height / this._pointer.getHeight() * 0.75 );
-    this._pointer.centerX = backgroundOptions.width / 2;
-    this._pointer.centerY = backgroundOptions.height / 2;
+      // set position and size for pointer
+      this._pointer.scale( backgroundOptions.width / this._pointer.getWidth() * 0.75, backgroundOptions.height / this._pointer.getHeight() * 0.75 );
+      this._pointer.centerX = backgroundOptions.width / 2;
+      this._pointer.centerY = backgroundOptions.height / 2;
 
-    // add pointer to node
-    this.addChild( this._pointer );
+      // add pointer to node
+      this.addChild( this._pointer );
+    }
 
     this.setText( contentText );
     this.hideText();
@@ -59,19 +59,19 @@ define( function( require ) {
     // TODO: active may no longer be needed
     active: function() {
       this.setBackgroundFill( ACTIVE_COLOR );
-      this._pointer.visible = false;
+      this._pointer && ( this._pointer.visible = false );
     },
     hover: function() {
       this.setBackgroundFill( HOVER_COLOR );
-      this._pointer.visible = true;
+      this._pointer && ( this._pointer.visible = true );
     },
     normal: function() {
       this.setBackgroundFill( NORMAL_COLOR );
-      this._pointer.visible = false;
+      this._pointer && ( this._pointer.visible = false );
     },
     select: function() {
       this.setBackgroundFill( SELECT_COLOR );
-      this._pointer.visible = false;
+      this._pointer && ( this._pointer.visible = false );
     }
   } );
 } );
diff --git a/js/divide/view/MultiplicationTableDivideNode.js b/js/divide/view/MultiplicationTableDivideNode.js
index 871db9ca..3b7067c6 100644
--- a/js/divide/view/MultiplicationTableDivideNode.js
+++ b/js/divide/view/MultiplicationTableDivideNode.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ define( function( require ) {
    */
   function MultiplicationTableDivideNode( problemModel, answerSheet, stateProperty, levelProperty, levelModels ) {
     var self = this;
-    MultiplicationTableNode.call( this, levelProperty, stateProperty, levelModels, answerSheet, true );
+    MultiplicationTableNode.call( this, levelProperty, stateProperty, levelModels, answerSheet, true, false );
 
     stateProperty.lazyLink( function( state ) {
       // set view for multiplication table after choosing left and right multipliers
diff --git a/js/factor/view/MultiplicationTableFactorNode.js b/js/factor/view/MultiplicationTableFactorNode.js
index 3115347d..4d46b654 100644
--- a/js/factor/view/MultiplicationTableFactorNode.js
+++ b/js/factor/view/MultiplicationTableFactorNode.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ define( function( require ) {
      */
     function MultiplicationTableFactorNode( model ) {
       var self = this;
-      MultiplicationTableNode.call( this, model.property( 'level' ), model.property( 'state' ), model.levelModels, model.answerSheet, false );
+      MultiplicationTableNode.call( this, model.property( 'level' ), model.property( 'state' ), model.levelModels, model.answerSheet, false, true );
 
       // convenience var
       var gameState = model.property( 'state' );
diff --git a/js/multiply/view/MultiplicationTableMultiplyNode.js b/js/multiply/view/MultiplicationTableMultiplyNode.js
index ab6b49b5..b072dbb5 100644
--- a/js/multiply/view/MultiplicationTableMultiplyNode.js
+++ b/js/multiply/view/MultiplicationTableMultiplyNode.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ define( function( require ) {
    */
   function MultiplicationTableMultiplyNode( problemModel, answerSheet, stateProperty, levelProperty, levelModels ) {
     var self = this;
-    MultiplicationTableNode.call( this, levelProperty, stateProperty, levelModels, answerSheet, true );
+    MultiplicationTableNode.call( this, levelProperty, stateProperty, levelModels, answerSheet, true, false );
     this.problemModel = problemModel;
 
     stateProperty.lazyLink( function( state ) {