Cards:2, 3, 4, 6
Easy16 ÷ 2
=3
23 + 3
=6
36 × 4
=24
The friendliest factors of 24 are 4 × 6 and 3 × 8. This hand almost builds itself: make a 6, pair it with the 4, done.
24 Game — Make 24 from Any 4 Numbers
Also try:
Difficulty Levels
Try These Difficulty Levels
Start where you are. Each level adds a little more pressure — pick one and play.
Warm-Up: Free Play
01Unlimited random puzzles with no timer. Undo and hints are free — learn the merge moves at your own pace.
Play nowDaily Streak
02One shared puzzle a day. Solve it to keep your streak alive — miss a day and it resets.
Today's puzzleTimed Sprint
03The same game, but the clock gives you 60 seconds. Turn it on in free play when warm-ups feel easy.
Beat the clockExpert Routes
04Stuck on a hard set? The solver shows every solution step by step — study the routes and spot the patterns.
Open the solver
How to Play
How to Play the 24 Game
The 24 game is a mental math puzzle. You get four numbers. Your goal is to combine them with arithmetic and make exactly 24.
- 01Start with the four numbers on the cards (each one is from 1 to 13).
- 02Pick two numbers and one operation: +, −, × or ÷. The two cards merge into one new card.
- 03Use every number exactly once. The merge order decides the grouping, so you never need to type parentheses.
- 04You win when one card remains and it shows 24.
Example
Given Cards
3
3
8
8
Solution Expression
8 ÷ (3 − 8 ÷ 3) =24
18 ÷ 3
=8/3
23 − 8/3
=1/3
38 ÷ 1/3
=24
Exact Fraction SolutionOpen Solver
That is the whole game. Four numbers, three moves, one answer: 24.
Worked Examples
24 Game Example Solutions, Step by Step
Four classic hands from easy to expert. Each one shows the exact merge order — the same three moves you make on the board above.
Cards:5, 6, 7, 8
Medium17 − 5
=2
28 × 6
=48
348 ÷ 2
=24
No two cards multiply to 24 here, so aim one step higher — build 48 with the big pair, then let the small pair divide it back down.
Cards:1, 5, 5, 5
Hard11 ÷ 5
=1/5
25 − 1/5
=24/5
35 × 24/5
=24
Fractions are allowed mid-calculation. The 1 ÷ 5 sliver tunes a 5 down to exactly 24/5 — and the last 5 cancels it back out.
Cards:4, 4, 7, 7
Expert14 ÷ 7
=4/7
24 − 4/7
=24/7
37 × 24/7
=24
One of the famous 'impossible' hands. Like 3, 3, 8, 8 above, the only way through is a fraction most players never try.
Stuck on a different hand? The Solver lists every solution for any four numbers, step by step. Open Solver
Strategy
24 Game Tips and Strategies
Speed comes from pattern recognition, not faster arithmetic. These are the patterns worth memorizing.
Start from the factor pairs of 24
24 = 3 × 8 = 4 × 6 = 2 × 12. Scan your cards for one of these factors, then check whether the remaining cards can build its partner. This one habit solves most hands.
Use 24's neighbors
24 is also 18 + 6, 21 + 3, 20 + 4 and 30 − 6. When no multiplication is visible, check whether three cards make a near-24 the fourth card can fix.
Split into two pairs
Combine two cards at a time and aim for two friendly values — 6 and 4, or 12 and 2 — then finish with a single operation. Most quick solves are pair splits.
Don't fear fractions
Tough hands like 3, 3, 8, 8 only open up through a fraction like 8 ÷ 3. When every integer path fails, divide two cards that leave an awkward remainder and keep going.
Work backwards from 24
Pick one card and ask what the other three must make. With an 8 in hand you need a 3; with a 6 you need a 4. A smaller target shrinks the search.
Drill the classic hands
Hands like 1, 5, 5, 5 and 4, 4, 7, 7 return again and again in disguise. Learn their shapes once and you will spot the family every time — the daily puzzle is perfect practice.
Why Practice
Why Practice the 24 Game?
Two minutes a round, no sign-up, and a real payoff for your number skills.
Faster Mental Math
Every round is arithmetic practice in disguise — addition, subtraction, multiplication and division under light pressure.
Real Number Sense
You learn to see factors, multiples and near-misses at a glance — 12 × 2, 18 + 6, 48 ÷ 2 all jump out.
Classroom Ready
Teachers use 24 as a warm-up that works for mixed abilities. Print a worksheet and hand it out — no accounts needed.
A Quick Brain Workout
Short, self-contained rounds make it an easy daily habit — a puzzle with your coffee, not a time sink.
FAQ
24 Game — Questions and Answers
Quick answers to the questions new players ask most about the 24 game.
What counts as a solution in the 24 game?
A solution is any way to combine all four numbers with +, −, × and ÷ so the result is exactly 24. You must use every number once, and only those four numbers.
What if I get stuck and can't make 24?
Some hands are hard. Use the Solver: enter your four numbers and it shows every valid solution with steps. You can also start a new hand — the puzzles here are unlimited.
Do I need negative numbers to play?
No. Most hands can be solved with positive numbers only. A few classic hands (like 3, 3, 8, 8) do need a fraction, but never a negative number.
Can I push numbers together, like making 24 from 2 and 4 as '24'?
No. Concatenating digits is not allowed. You may only use the four numbers as separate values with the operations +, −, × and ÷.
Do I have to use all four numbers?
Yes. Using all four numbers exactly once is the core rule of the 24 game. A solution that leaves a number unused does not count.
What is the hardest 24 game hand?
Hands like 3, 3, 8, 8 and 4, 4, 7, 7 are famous because the only solution uses fractions, for example 8 ÷ (3 − 8 ÷ 3) = 24. They look impossible until you see the trick.
Is the 24 game good for kids?
Yes. It builds number sense, fluency with the four operations, and flexible thinking. Start with easy hands (small numbers, no fractions) and move up. The Worksheets page prints practice sheets with answer keys.
Is the 24 game free to play here?
Yes. Playing, the daily puzzle, the solver and the printable worksheets are all free. No sign-up is needed to play.
What is the daily puzzle?
Every day one fixed hand is shared across all players. Solve it to keep your streak. You can replay any past day from the puzzle archive without affecting your stats.
Is this the same as 'math 24', '24 points' or 'make 24'?
Yes. The 24 game is also called math 24, 24 points, make 24 or the 24 challenge. The rules are the same: combine four numbers with +, −, × and ÷ to make 24.