🔀 Playing this one solo
Or start a round — 10 puzzles, each a different randomly-rotating game.
Choose a difficulty for this round
Objective
Arrange number and operator tiles into an equation that hits the target value. All the tiles you need are given — the challenge is finding the one arrangement of numbers and operators that actually reaches the target.
How to play
- Tap a number or operator tile to select it.
- Tap an empty slot in the equation template to place the tile there.
- Arrange all 5 tiles so the equation equals the target number.
Equation Scramble Top 5
No scores yet — be the first!
Equation Scramble
Arrange the tiles below to make an equation that equals 27.
⏱ 00:00
🎉 Equation solved!
🎉 Solved! Moving to the next puzzle…
About Equation Scramble
Equation Scramble gives you three number tiles and two operator tiles, plus a target value displayed beside an equals sign. Select a tile, then tap an empty slot in the five-slot template to drop it in. The trick is that multiplication and division get done before addition and subtraction, so the order you place the tiles changes the answer in surprising ways.
Tips and strategy
- Keep operator precedence in mind. A multiplication in the template is calculated before an addition, even if the addition appears first on the left.
- Work backward from the target. Ask which number times another is close to it, then see whether the remaining tile closes the gap.
- The number tiles only fit number slots and operator tiles only fit operator slots, so you can focus on one kind of choice at a time.
- Use the line under the equation, which shows the sum you built and its result, to see how far you are from the target.
- Tap a filled slot while nothing is selected to take the tile back out, or press Reset to clear the whole template.
What it exercises
Equation Scramble practices mental arithmetic, order-of-operations awareness and estimation. Testing different arrangements teaches you to predict results before you commit, which strengthens number fluency, logical trial and error, and the habit of double-checking a calculation. It also shows how small changes in order can completely change a result, which keeps you checking each step carefully.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you play Equation Scramble?
- Tap a number or operator tile to select it, then tap a matching slot in the equation. Fill all five slots so the expression equals the target number.
- Does Equation Scramble follow order of operations?
- Yes. Multiplication and division are evaluated before addition and subtraction, and operators of the same level run from left to right.
- Can I use a tile twice in Equation Scramble?
- No, each tile can be used only once. When you place a tile in a slot it leaves the tray, and you can pull it back out to try a different arrangement.
Try next
Grid Sums
Fill a small grid with digits 1-9 so every row and column matches its sum clue. A compact numeric logic puzzle — every digit you place has to satisfy both its row's sum clue and its column's sum clue at once.
Target 24
Combine four numbers with +, −, ×, ÷ to reach exactly 24. There's always at least one way to reach 24 with the given numbers — the challenge is spotting the right order of operations.
Prime Hunt
Tap every prime number in the grid while avoiding composite numbers. Sharpen basic number sense — the grid mixes primes and composites together, and speed and accuracy both count.
Today's Riddles
New set every dayI am round with a flaky crust, and I am full of pumpkin at dinner. What am I?
I grow in rows with silky hair and golden kernels at harvest. What am I?
I fall from the trees in autumn and crunch under your feet. What am I?
I hold the whole dinner but I have four legs and cannot walk. What am I?
I heat the feast while the family waits, and I have a door but no knob on the front of the house. What am I?
We cross the sea in a ship and arrive for the first harvest feast. Who are we?