Equation Climb
Every bridge you build has to make today’s target number. Trace touching tiles — number, sign, number — and climb to the top of the tower in as few bridges as you can.
How to play
- Every bridge is a path of touching tiles that makes today’s number. Numbers and signs take turns, like 3 + 4 × 2.
- Your first bridge starts on the bottom row. Each new bridge starts on the row you reached and has to climb higher.
- Drag across the tiles and let go, or tap them one at a time and tap the last one again. A bridge can use up to 5 tiles, and never the same tile twice (a new bridge can reuse tiles).
- Reach the top row to win! Par is the fewest bridges it can take.
Four levels: pick your heat
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Mild
Long bridges climb faster. Two numbers that make the target with a sign between them make a quick bridge.
With Tan the Turtle. Play today's Mild Equation Climb →
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Medium
× makes big numbers fast. A bridge that climbs straight up can save you a whole bridge.
With Digit the Fox. Play today's Medium Equation Climb →
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Spicy
× and ÷ happen before + and −: 2 + 3 × 4 is 14, not 20. And ÷ has to come out even.
With Blaze the Dragon. Play today's Spicy Equation Climb →
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Extra Spicy
Every bridge needs at least two signs today. The tallest bridge isn’t always best: check where your next one can start.
With Pi the Owl. Play today's Extra Spicy Equation Climb →
What math it practices
- Making one number many different ways
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts
- Order of operations (Spicy and Extra Spicy)
- Planning ahead to reach the top in the fewest bridges
Best for grades 3–8, and fun for grown-ups too. Every level has its own daily leaderboard, and solving any puzzle on its day keeps your streak going.
Questions
What math does Equation Climb practice?
Number sense: finding many ways to make the same number. Mild uses only + and −, Medium adds ×, and Spicy and Extra Spicy add ÷ and order of operations, so 3 + 4 × 2 makes 11, not 14.
What is par?
Par is the fewest bridges anyone could use to reach the top. Matching par is a bragging right; the leaderboard ranks by time.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Free, with no sign-up. Every visitor gets a guest name like Mathlete4821. The site never asks for a name, email or age.
What do the peppers mean?
There are four levels: Mild 🌶️ (warm up), Medium 🌶️🌶️, Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️ and Extra Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (big-brain challenge). Play any level, or all four, every day. Each level has its own leaderboard.
When is there a new puzzle?
Every day at midnight Pacific time. Missed a day? Past puzzles stay playable.
Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. The puzzles make a quick warm-up or a challenge for early finishers, and they work on phones, tablets, Chromebooks and the classroom screen.