In short

Find real four-letter words whose letters, combined with +, −, × and /, hit the target exactly. On weekdays you need four different words in 4 minutes; at weekends there is one rare word to find, with 16 minutes to do it (see “Weekday and weekend puzzles” below).

The goal

Each round shows a target number. Type a real four-letter word, then choose operators (+, −, × or /) so that its letter values make exactly that number. On weekdays you have 4 minutes to find four different words. Every word counts, but four is a full clear.

Order of operations

× and / are always worked out first, wherever they fall in the chain, and then + and − are applied from left to right. For example, with WORD (W=23, O=15, R=18, D=4) and the operators +, ×, −, the game works out 15 × 18 = 270 first and then 23 + 270 − 4 = 289, not 680. Division has to come out exactly, otherwise that combination isn’t allowed.

Worked example

The target is 22 and you try THIS (T=20, H=8, I=9, S=19). Choose the operators −, − and +.

There is no × or / here, so it is worked left to right. That matches the target, so THIS is accepted as one of your four words. With a multiplication it can go the other way: for a target of 51 and GOLD (G=7, O=15, L=12, D=4), G − O × L + D works out 15 × 12 = 180 first and gives 7 − 180 + 4 = −169, so that combination is rejected.

Playing it

Type a four-letter word. When it is a valid word, the sum screen opens showing its letters and their values, with a drop-down for each operator. Choose the operators and tap Check. A correct sum locks the word in as one of your finds. A wrong one simply tells you what it came to, so there is no penalty: change the operators or try another word. A word that isn’t on the list shakes and stays flagged until you change a letter or tap Clear word. Past results are saved on this device and listed under “Show past results”.

Weekday and weekend puzzles

On weekdays the target can be reached by many words, and you race to find four of them in 4 minutes. At weekends (Saturday and Sunday) the target is chosen so that only one word, or very few, can reach it, so you need to find just one, with 16 minutes to do it. The counter reads 0/1 instead of 0/4.

Weekday score (out of 4): the number of words you found. Weekend score (out of 4): how fast you solve it. Under 4 minutes scores 4, 4–8 minutes 3, 8–12 minutes 2, 12–16 minutes 1, and 0 if time runs out.

After a weekday puzzle you can tap Play again for an untimed practice replay of the same target; the game shows how many answers exist (for example “found 12 of 786”). Only your first go counts. Weekend puzzles can’t be replayed.

Learn along the way

Single is quick mental arithmetic practice. Because every division must come out exactly, you also get used to factors and multiples, and you meet the order of operations (BIDMAS) in a friendly setting.

Watch a playthrough