Equation Guess — A Daily Maths Puzzle
Inspired by Wordle and Nerdle, Equation Guess hides a valid 8-character maths equation — like 23+45=68 — and gives you six tries to find it. Every guess must itself be a true equation; the colour feedback tells you how close you got.
How to Play
Type any valid 8-character equation using digits, + − × ÷, and =
Green — that character is correct and in the right spotYellow — that character is in the equation, but the wrong spotGray — that character isn't in the equation at allUse the clues to narrow down the numbers and operator across your six guesses
Strategy Tips
Start broad — an opening guess like 12+34=46 tests several different digits and an operator at onceWatch the operator — since only one of + − × ÷ is correct, ruling operators out early narrows the search fastRemember the maths has to work — every guess must be arithmetically true, which itself is a powerful constraintTrack digit positions , not just which digits appear — a "6" in the wrong place still narrows things down
The Shapes an 8-Character Equation Can Take
The hidden equation always has one operator, one equals sign and no leading zeros, and its result is always a whole number. With exactly eight characters that leaves only a handful of shapes, and knowing them cuts the search space dramatically:
Two-digit + two-digit = two-digit , such as 12+34=46. The sum stays under 100.One-digit + two-digit = three-digit (or the reverse), such as 9+99=108. Rare, because the sum has to reach 100.Two-digit − two-digit = two-digit , such as 99-45=54. The difference is always 10 or more.Two-digit × one-digit = three-digit (or the reverse), such as 13×8=104 or 8×13=104.Three-digit ÷ two-digit = one-digit (or the reverse), such as 104÷13=8 or 104÷8=13.
The position of the equals sign tells you the shape. If = turns green in position 6, the result has two digits: a two-digit addition or subtraction, or a three-digit number divided by a single digit. Position 5 means a three-digit result, so a multiplication or a sum that crosses 100. Position 7 means a one-digit answer, which only division produces.
A Worked Game
Suppose the hidden equation is 47+35=82. A sensible opening guess uses six different digits and no repeats, for example 16+29=45:
The + in position 3 and the = in position 6 come back green : the operator is addition and the result has two digits.
2, 4 and 5 come back yellow : they are in the equation but not in those positions.1, 6 and 9 come back gray and can be dropped from every later guess.
A second guess that respects all of that is 43+25=68. Now 4 is green in position 1, 5 is green in position 5, 3, 2 and 8 are yellow, and 6 is gray. The 8 cannot be in position 8, so it must be in position 7, which forces the 2 into position 8: the result is 82. The 3 must sit in position 2 or 4. Writing the sum as 4? + ?5 = 82, the units column needs ? + 5 to end in 2, so the first blank is 7 with a carry, and 4 + ? + 1 = 8 makes the second blank 3. The third guess, 47+35=82, solves it. Three or four guesses is typical once you use the arithmetic as a constraint rather than treating the puzzle as pure pattern matching.
What the Game Trains
Every guess has to be a true equation, so you are doing real mental arithmetic on each move: number bonds and carrying for addition, borrowing for subtraction, and times-table facts for multiplication and division. The deduction step exercises the same column-by-column reasoning that written addition uses, just in reverse. If you want to drill those skills directly, the timed maths practice page runs the same operations without the puzzle layer, and the formula library covers the rules behind them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Daily puzzle change every day? Yes — everyone who plays Daily mode on the same date gets the exact same equation, so you can compare results with friends. Switch to Practice for unlimited random puzzles any time.
Why was my guess rejected? Guesses must be exactly 8 characters and a real, correct equation, such as 12+34=46, 99-45=54, 13×8=104 or 104÷13=8. Made-up or incorrect maths won't be accepted, just like Nerdle.
Can I use multiplication and division? Yes — all four operators (+, −, ×, ÷) are valid, both in the hidden equation and in your guesses.
Is this the same as Nerdle? It's inspired by the same core idea — a Wordle-style equation guesser — built as our own free, ad-supported version with a practice mode alongside the daily puzzle.
How is the hidden equation generated? The game picks an operator, then random whole-number operands, and keeps only combinations that are true and exactly eight characters long. Daily mode seeds the random generator with today's date, so everyone gets the same puzzle; Practice mode seeds it from the clock.
Can the answer be negative or contain a decimal? No. Subtractions are generated so the result is never below zero, divisions are only generated when they divide exactly, and the hidden equation never has leading zeros. Your guesses must also be true, whole-number equations.
What is the best opening guess? One with six different digits and no repeated characters, so every position gives new information, for example 16+29=45 or 13×8=104. Avoid repeating a digit until you know it appears twice in the answer.
Written by Alex van den Berg · Last reviewed 12 September 2026
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