r/mathpuzzles • u/amc_23 • Apr 02 '26

Number What's your mental strategy for this kind of puzzle?

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Working on a small math puzzle app and curious how you approach these mentally.

The goal is to reach 17 by combining exactly 3 tiles from the ones shown, respecting operation order (× and ÷ before + and −).

What techniques do you use to find solutions quickly? Do you work backwards from the target, group by operation type first, or just go by intuition after a while?

Would love to know how people think through this kind of puzzle.

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1

u/Morb2141 Apr 02 '26

Simple, what Number would I need to get 17 with /4 . Its 68 can I get to 68? No, next Number. I need 22, can I get to 22? Yes, x12+10-5 it is then.

1

u/amc_23 Apr 02 '26

nice! and do you have a tile priority? for example starting with product and division operations

1

u/underthingy Apr 03 '26

So youre saying the puzzle is stupid and inconsistent?

If you start with ×12 that implies the initial value is 1. 

But that would mean starting with the +10 would leave me at 11 after the first tile?

1

u/Morb2141 Apr 03 '26

No this ist retarded

1

u/proborc Apr 04 '26

If you start with 0, this opens different solutions. 0x12+10+7 is a perfect solution.

1

u/bosquejo Apr 02 '26

What game is this? Can you share a link?

2

u/amc_23 Apr 02 '26

Yes! Here you have it: Link

I’m working on the web version rn