Make the Number — Play the 24 Game Online

🎮How to play the 24 game online

1. Choose Easy, Medium (24) or Hard and press Let’s Go! A practice set has 5 puzzles. There is also a Daily 24: one puzzle a day, the same for everyone, with a daily streak and a shareable result.
2. Look at the target and the number cards. Tap a card to add it to your expression. Each card can be used only once.
3. Tap + − × ÷ ( ) to add operations and parentheses. ⌫ removes the last item and CLR clears everything.
4. Watch the Current value readout and the “how close” meter as you build.
5. Press Check. If your expression equals the target, you score points and the next puzzle appears. If not, Ollie tells you whether you need more or less.
6. Stuck? Press New Puzzle to skip, or Show a solution to see one way to make the target.

You can also play with a keyboard: press a digit to add a one-digit card, type + − * / ( ) or x for ×, press Backspace to undo and Enter to check.

⚙️Difficulty levels

• Easy: three numbers from 1 to 9 and a target from 6 to 30. Good for practicing basic operations.
• Medium (24): four numbers from 1 to 9. Most puzzles have the classic target of 24; the rest use a target from 12 to 40. Every Medium puzzle can be solved using all four numbers.
• Hard: four numbers from 1 to 13, like a full deck of cards, and a target from 25 to 120. Every Hard puzzle can be solved using all four numbers.

⚙️Rules, scoring and stars

• Each number card can be used once. In the classic 24 game you must use all four numbers. Here any correct expression is accepted, but try to use every card: each Medium and Hard puzzle has a solution that does.
• Parentheses can be nested, and division can create fractions along the way, as long as the final value equals the target exactly.
• Numbers cannot be pushed together, so 2 and 4 cannot become 24.
• Points: 100 per solved puzzle, plus a speed bonus for solving in under a minute, a streak bonus for solving puzzles in a row, and 50 extra points on Hard.
• Stars per set: 3 stars for 5 out of 5 with no solutions shown, 2 stars for 4 or more solved, 1 star for 2 or more.
• Your level rises every 5 puzzles you solve. Your best streak, fastest solve and best set score for each difficulty are saved on your device, and stickers such as Quick Thinker (solve in under 15 seconds) and No Peeking (a full set without help) are there to collect.

✨Worked examples: how to make 24

• 2, 3, 4, 6: (3 − 2) × 4 × 6 = 1 × 24 = 24.
• 4, 7, 8, 8: 8 ÷ 8 = 1, then 7 − 1 = 6, and 6 × 4 = 24. Written as one expression: (7 − 8 ÷ 8) × 4 = 24.
• 1, 5, 5, 5: 1 ÷ 5 = 0.2, then 5 − 0.2 = 4.8, and 5 × 4.8 = 24. One expression: 5 × (5 − 1 ÷ 5) = 24.
• 3, 3, 8, 8: one of the hardest hands. 8 ÷ 3 = 8/3, then 3 − 8/3 = 1/3, and 8 ÷ (1/3) = 24. One expression: 8 ÷ (3 − 8 ÷ 3) = 24.

The last two examples show why fractions matter: some hands can only be solved with a fraction in the middle of the calculation.

💡Strategies for reaching 24 (or any target)

• Start from factor pairs. 24 = 3 × 8 = 4 × 6 = 2 × 12. If you can make a 3 and an 8 from your cards, you are done.
• Look for numbers near the target. 24 = 20 + 4 = 30 − 6 = 18 + 6. Make the big part, then adjust.
• Split the cards into two pairs. Make one number from the first two cards and one from the other two, then combine them.
• Turn extra cards into 1 or 0. Two equal cards make 1 (8 ÷ 8) or 0 (5 − 5), which lets you multiply or add without changing the value.
• Work backwards. If one card is 6, ask what the other cards must make: 4 (6 × 4), 18 (6 + 18) or 30 (30 − 6).
• Remember the order of operations. 2 + 3 × 4 is 14, but (2 + 3) × 4 is 20. Use parentheses to make the calculator do what you mean.

⚙️Skills and grade levels

Make the Number builds mental arithmetic, flexible thinking and fluency with the order of operations. Easy suits grades 2–4, Medium suits grades 4–8, and Hard challenges older students and adults. It connects to Common Core standards 3.OA.C.7 (multiply and divide within 100) and 5.OA.A.1 (use parentheses in numerical expressions). For more practice, try order of operations drills, review the order of operations definition, or check your own expressions with the order of operations calculator.

🍎Tips for teachers and parents

• Number talk: project one puzzle and ask the class for as many different solutions as possible. Compare which ones use all four cards.
• Five-puzzle warm-up: one set of 5 takes a few minutes. Students can record their points and try to beat them tomorrow.
• Explain the parentheses: ask students to read their solution aloud and say why each pair of parentheses is needed.
• Use Show a solution as a lesson: after revealing a solution, have the student explain each step, then try the next puzzle without help.

❓24 game FAQ

What is the 24 game?

The 24 game is a classic math card game. You get four numbers and must combine them with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to make 24, using each number exactly once. Make the Number plays this game on Medium and adds Easy and Hard versions with other targets.

How do you make 24 with four numbers?

Look for a factor pair of 24 (3 × 8, 4 × 6, 2 × 12), a number close to 24 that you can adjust, or a way to split the cards into two pairs. The worked examples above show each method.

Is every puzzle solvable?

Yes. A solver checks each puzzle before it is shown, and Show a solution displays one answer.

Can I use fractions?

Yes, in the middle of a calculation. For example, 8 ÷ (3 − 8 ÷ 3) = 24 uses the fraction 1/3 along the way. The final answer must equal the target exactly.

Do I have to use all four numbers?

The game accepts any correct expression, but using all four numbers is the classic challenge, and every Medium and Hard puzzle can be solved that way.

Is it free?

Yes. It runs free in your browser on computers, tablets and phones, with no sign-up.

What other math puzzles can I play?

Try the Magic Square Puzzle or crack a hidden equation in Equation Guess. You can also browse all free math games.

Is there a daily 24 puzzle?

Yes. Press 📅 Daily 24 for one new medium puzzle each day with a target of 24 — every player gets the same four numbers. You get one scored try (3 stars under 1 minute, 2 under 3 minutes), you can practice it again afterward, and a new puzzle appears at midnight your time. Keep solving to grow your daily streak, then copy your result to share it.

Can I check whether my numbers make 24?

Yes. Open the 🧮 24 Solver, type any four whole numbers and a target, and it tells you instantly whether they can be made. Solutions stay hidden until you reveal them one at a time (up to five different ways), and if there is no solution — 1, 1, 1, 1 can’t make 24 — it suggests close targets you can make instead.

Can I print a certificate?

Yes. When you finish a round with at least one star, type a name in the box on the results screen and press 🖨️ Print certificate. The certificate shows the game, the stars earned, the main scores and the date — a nice way to celebrate progress at home or in class.