Target Number Puzzle: 5 Mental Math Tips to Solve Faster
Numbers puzzles reward a few small tactics. Here are the mental math shortcuts that pay off almost every time in Target — and everyday arithmetic.
Target is a numbers game with a beautiful minimum: six numbers, one target, four operations. Every board has a solution, and most have several. Here's how to find one faster.
1. Anchor with multiplication
Look at your large numbers first. If your target is near a multiple of one of them, you probably want to build around that. 100 × 7 gives you 700; you just need to nudge from there.
2. Save small numbers for adjustments
Small differences are what your small numbers are for. Save 1s and 2s for the last step, when you need to hit the target exactly.
3. Don't be afraid of division
Division is often the missing move. If you're 20 over, try dividing an earlier subtotal — you can often reach the target with fewer steps.
4. Learn a handful of mental math tricks
The same tricks that speed up real-world arithmetic speed up Target. See our full mental math tricks post for five you can memorize in an afternoon.
5. Play daily
Speed is a skill, and speed comes from reps. Play today's daily Target, then check the leaderboard to see where you land.
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