24 Game Online Free
Use all four numbers, once each, with add, subtract, multiply and divide to make 24. Every puzzle has at least one answer.
How the 24 Game works
The 24 Game is a mental math puzzle: you get four numbers and must make exactly 24 using each number once, with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. For example, 1, 2, 3 and 4 make 24 as (1 + 2 + 3) × 4, and 4, 7, 8 and 8 make 24 as (7 + 4 − 8) × 8.
Easy puzzles use the numbers 1 to 9 and have many answers without division. Medium puzzles have fewer answers. Hard puzzles use numbers up to 13 and often need a fraction on the way, like 3, 3, 8 and 8: 8 ÷ (3 − 8 ÷ 3) = 24.
How to play 24 Game
- You get four numbers. Use every one of them exactly once, with +, −, × and ÷, to make 24.
- Tap a number, then an operation, then a second number. The two cards are replaced by the answer: tap 8, ×, 3 and they become 24.
- Keep combining cards until only one is left. If it’s 24, you’ve solved the puzzle. Answers can be fractions or negative numbers along the way.
- Undo takes back one step and Reset starts the puzzle again. Hint plays the next step of an answer for you.
- On a keyboard, press 1 to 4 to pick the cards in order, + − * / for the operations, and Backspace to undo.
- Pick Easy, Medium or Hard at the top. Stuck? Show answer reveals one solution, then Next puzzle gives you a new one.
24 Game skills
- Mental arithmetic with all four operations
- Order of operations and brackets
- Factor pairs of 24 (3 × 8, 4 × 6, 2 × 12)
Level: Ages 8 and up (Grades 3–8)
Tips for the 24 Game
Think in factor pairs. 24 is 3 × 8, 4 × 6, 2 × 12 or 1 × 24, so try to make one half of a pair from two of the cards and the other half from the rest. Practise them in the 3, 4 and 8 times tables.
Look for ways to add or subtract to 24 too: 20 + 4, 18 + 6, 30 − 6 or 25 − 1.
A 1 can be used without changing anything: multiply or divide by it. Two equal numbers can make 1 (7 ÷ 7) or 0 (7 − 7).
If nothing works with whole numbers, try a fraction. With 1, 5, 5 and 5: 1 ÷ 5 = 1/5, 5 − 1/5 = 24/5, and 24/5 × 5 = 24.
24 Game questions and answers
How do you play the 24 Game?
You get four numbers and must make 24 using each number exactly once, with any mix of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. For example, with 2, 3, 4 and 6 you could do 6 × 4 = 24 and then 3 − 2 = 1, 24 × 1 = 24.
Can every set of four numbers make 24?
No. Of the 495 different sets of four numbers from 1 to 9, 404 can make 24 and 91 can’t (1, 1, 1, 1 is one). With numbers from 1 to 13 it’s 1,362 out of 1,820. Every puzzle in this game is checked first, so it always has an answer.
What is the hardest 24 Game puzzle?
Puzzles that can only be solved through a fraction are the hardest. Famous ones are 3, 3, 8, 8 (8 ÷ (3 − 8 ÷ 3)), 1, 5, 5, 5 (5 × (5 − 1 ÷ 5)) and 3, 3, 7, 7 ((3 + 3 ÷ 7) × 7). The Hard level includes puzzles like these.
Can you use fractions or negative numbers?
Yes, along the way. You can divide to get a fraction, or subtract a bigger number from a smaller one, as long as the final answer is exactly 24. Most Easy and Medium puzzles don’t need them.
What age is the 24 Game for?
Easy puzzles suit children from about 8 who know their times tables. Medium and Hard are a good challenge for older students and adults, and the game is often used in classrooms from grade 3 to grade 8.
Is this the official 24 Game?
No. The 24® Game card game was created by Robert Sun in 1988 and is a trademark of Suntex International. This is an independent online version of the same make-24 puzzle.