Mathle: How to Play the Math Wordle Game (vs Nerdle)

If you love Wordle but secretly prefer numbers to letters, Mathle is the puzzle for you. It is a free math Wordle game: instead of guessing a five-letter word, you guess a hidden eight-tile equation, and you get six tries to crack it. Every guess has to be a real, correct sum, so each row is part mental math, part logic puzzle.

In this guide you will learn exactly how Mathle works, what the green, yellow and gray tiles are telling you, the best starting equations, and the tactics strong players use to solve it in three or four guesses. We will also compare it with Nerdle, the game that made math Wordle famous, so you know which one to play.

What Is Mathle?

Mathle is a daily equation puzzle on Puzzit. Each level hides one arithmetic equation that fills exactly eight spaces, made from the digits 0 to 9, the four operators (+, -, *, /) and a single equals sign. You type a full equation, press Enter, and the tiles change color to show how close you are. Use the clues, try again, and solve it before your six rows run out.

If you have searched for a math version of Wordle or a math equation Wordle, this is that idea in its purest form. The feedback system is the one you already know from Wordle; the only new skill is arithmetic.

How to Play Mathle: The Rules

• Fill all eight tiles. A guess must use every space, for example 12+34=46, 250/5=50 or 11+1-3=9.
• Make it mathematically correct. The left side must actually equal the right side. Invalid sums are refused, so you never lose a guess to a typo in your math.
• Numbers can be 1, 2 or 3 digits. Leading zeros such as 05 or 03 are not allowed, but a lone 0 is fine, as in 8-33*0=8.
• Order of operations applies. Multiplication and division are worked out before addition and subtraction, which is why 8-33*0 equals 8 and not 0.
• You get six guesses. Your played, wins, streak and best stats are tracked on the game page.

What the colors mean

• Green: the number or symbol is in the equation and in the right spot.
• Yellow: it is in the equation, but somewhere else.
• Dark gray: it does not appear in the answer (or you have already placed every copy of it).

Duplicates follow the Wordle convention. If you play two 4s and only one turns yellow while the other goes gray, the answer contains exactly one 4. That single detail saves a lot of wasted guesses.

A Worked Example: Solving in Three

Here is a sample game (not a real daily answer) to show how the clues stack up.

Guess 1: 12+34=46. Almost everything is gray, but two tiles are green: the equals sign really is in position six, and the last digit is a 6. So the answer is a five-tile left side and a two-digit result ending in 6. We have also ruled out 1, 2, 3, 4 and the plus sign.

Guess 2: 56-8*7=0. This one tests fresh digits and two new operators. The 6, minus, 8 and times are all yellow: they are in the answer but in different places. 5, 7 and 0 are out. The equals sign shows yellow here because we deliberately moved it off position six to test other tiles.

Guess 3: 9*8-6=66. We need a times, a minus, an 8 and some 6s, with a result of _6. Nine times eight is 72, minus 6 gives 66. Solved.

The Best Starting Equations for Mathle

A great opener tests as many different digits as possible and at least one operator besides plus. These three are all valid eight-tile equations, and together they cover every digit:

• 9*8-7=65: five different high digits plus both times and minus. Our favorite first guess.
• 48-32=16: six fresh digits and a three-digit-two-digit shape that checks a common layout.
• 100/4=25: the cleanest way to probe 0 and division, and it tests a three-digit number on the left.

Playing 9*8-7=65 then 48-32=16 touches all nine digits from 1 to 9 in two guesses, which usually leaves you with enough information to solve on guess three or four.

7 Mathle Tips and Tricks to Win More Often

• Locate the equals sign first. Its position tells you the shape of the answer. Equals in position six means a two-digit result; position seven means a one-digit result; position five means a three-digit result.
• Use the last digit. Once you know the final digit of the result, you can often work backwards. If the answer ends in 0, multiplication by 5 or 10 is a strong suspect.
• Think about size. A three-digit result usually needs multiplication. A one-digit result with lots of numbers on the left usually means subtraction or division is involved.
• Respect BODMAS. When you see both a times and a minus in yellow, remember the multiplication happens first. 9*8-6 and 9-8*6 give very different numbers.
• Never replay a gray tile. Each guess should test something new until you are ready to solve.
• Swap positions to test yellows. Commutative operations are your friend: 8*9 and 9*8 give the same value, so you can move a yellow digit without breaking your equation.
• Keep division clean. Pick pairs that divide evenly, like 96/8 or 250/5, so your guess stays valid.

Mathle vs Nerdle: Which Math Wordle Should You Play?

Nerdle is the game most people mean when they search for a Nerdle math game or Nerdle math Wordle. It was created by London-based data scientist Richard Mann with his children, built by his friend Marcus Tettmar, and launched on 20 January 2022. Classic Nerdle also asks you to find a hidden eight-character calculation in six tries, so if you enjoy one, you will feel at home in the other.

The core puzzle is the same, so the honest answer is to play both. Many players solve Nerdle first thing, then play Mathle for a second equation, then warm down with another number game.

More Math Games Like Wordle

Finished today's Mathle? Keep the number streak going with these free games on Puzzit:

• Math Crossword: fill a crossword grid with numbers so every across and down sum works.
• High Tile: a daily merging puzzle about squeezing out the highest number (read our High Tile guide).
• Hyper Math: fast arcade arithmetic where you catch the right operations (see the Hyper Math tips).
• Calculator Game: reach a target number with a limited set of buttons.
• Sudoku: the classic logic grid if you want a slower, deeper number puzzle.

For printable-style challenges, try our list of math logic puzzles, or browse every number game on Puzzit.

Mathle FAQ

Is Mathle the same as Nerdle?

They share the same idea: guess a hidden eight-character equation in six tries using color clues. Mathle is Puzzit's own take on the format, free to play in the browser alongside dozens of other puzzles.

What is the best first guess in Mathle?

Start with an equation that uses many different digits and more than one operator. 9*8-7=65 is a strong opener, followed by 48-32=16 to cover the remaining digits.

Does Mathle use order of operations?

Yes. Multiplication and division are calculated before addition and subtraction, so 8-33*0=8 is a valid equation.

Can I use leading zeros in Mathle?

No. Numbers like 05 or 03 are not allowed, but a single 0 can be used on its own.

Is there a new Mathle every day?

Yes. Mathle is a daily equation puzzle, and each new level comes with a fresh hidden equation.

Is Mathle free?

Yes. Mathle is completely free and works on desktop, tablet and mobile with no app download.

Ready to Crack Today's Equation?

Open today’s Mathle, start with 9*8-7=65, and see if you can beat three guesses. Then challenge a friend to match your score.