A new number puzzle every day: find the hidden calculation that makes the target. Each guess must work out to the target, and the tiles tell you which digits and signs are right.
How to play
Look at the target, for example Make 24 with 6 boxes.
Type a calculation that makes it, using digits and + − × ÷, and press Enter. The keys X and * also type ×, and / types ÷.
Read the tiles: ✓ teal is in the right place, ↔ amber is in the hidden calculation but somewhere else, grey isn't in it.
Find the hidden calculation in six guesses, then share your grid of circles.
The rules
Each guess must be a correct calculation that makes the target.
× and ÷ are worked out before + and −; every division must come out whole.
A calculation starts and ends with a number, never has two signs together, and no number starts with 0.
Rearranged versions of the hidden calculation count as solving it.
Worked example
Suppose the target is 24 and the hidden calculation is 12+3×4. A first guess of 20+1×4 also makes 24, so it's allowed, and it scores like this (worked out by the same code as the game):
2↔0+✓1↔×✓4✓
The +, the × and the 4 are in the right places. The 2 and the 1 are in the hidden calculation but somewhere else, and there's no 0. Swapping them makes the first number 12, and 12 + ? × 4 = 24 means the missing digit is 3, so the second guess solves it:
1✓2✓+✓3✓×✓4✓
Tips
Start with a guess that uses several different digits and two different signs, so each guess tests more symbols.
Remember the order of operations: a × near the end changes the total far more than a + does.
If a sign shows ↔, try it in each other possible place; signs can't sit at the start or the end.
Like word puzzles too? The 5-letter word game works the same way with letters.
Frequently asked questions
How does the math puzzle work?
You're given a target number and a row of boxes. Fill the boxes with a calculation that makes the target, such as 12+3×4 for 24, and press Enter. The tiles then show which digits and signs are in the hidden calculation, and where. Find it within six guesses.
What order are the sums worked out in?
The usual order: × and ÷ before + and −, then left to right. So 12+3×4 is 12 + 12 = 24, not 15 × 4. Every division must come out whole, so 7÷2 isn't allowed.
My calculation makes the target but isn't accepted as the answer. Why?
Many calculations can make the same number; the puzzle has one hidden calculation and the tiles guide you to it. A rearrangement of the hidden one does count, though: if the answer is 12+3×4, then 4×3+12 also solves it.
Is it the same puzzle for everyone?
Yes. Everyone gets the same target and hidden calculation on the same date, and a new one arrives at midnight where you are. The daily puzzle uses 6 boxes; Unlimited lets you play Easy (5 boxes, + and − only), Normal (6) or Hard (8).
Is this good practice for children?
It practises mental arithmetic, the order of operations and reasoning from clues in a few minutes a day. The Easy level only uses adding and subtracting, which suits younger players.
