Make Six Puzzle - Number Challenge

Post Contents hide

2 Free Download of Make Six Puzzle Challenge

4 More Number Based Challenges and Puzzles

I don’t know the exact origin of this Make Six Puzzle/Number Challenge, but I knew as soon as I saw it that I had to turn it into a resource I could use in my high school math classroom.

In this Make Six Puzzle, you are given eight equations. You must insert mathematical symbols (no digits) to make each equation equal six. If you are wondering what mathematical symbols you are allowed to use, that is up to you!

The only restriction is that you cannot add any digits to the equation. This includes adding exponents.

I first featured the puzzle in Volume 66 of Monday Must Reads. Tierney Kennedy shared this puzzle after seeing it on LinkedIn of all places.

tweet of make six puzzle on linkedin. — Image Source: https://twitter.com/kennedy_tierney/status/1309620053847941120

In the comments of that twitter thread, 1to9puzzle [SPOILER ALERT – this link includes discussion of solutions] shared that they had run across the puzzle three years previously and had shared it on their twitter account.

As a result, I’m not sure exactly who to credit with the puzzle. If anyone knows of a source, I would love for you to share so I can share more details with my readers!

Desmos Version of Make Six Challenge

Kathy Henderson shared a Desmos version of this activity. Students use the sketch tools to complete the challenge.

Free Download of Make Six Puzzle Challenge

Make Six Puzzle Challenge (PDF) (13704 downloads )

Make Six Puzzle Challenge (Editable Publisher File ZIP) (3156 downloads )

Puzzle Solutions

I intentionally do not make answers to the printable math puzzles I share on my blog available online because I strive to provide learning experiences for my students that are non-google-able. I would like other teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms as well without the solutions being easily found on the Internet.

However, I do recognize that us teachers are busy people and sometimes need to quickly reference an answer key to see if a student has solved a puzzle correctly or to see if they have interpreted the instructions properly.

If you are a teacher who is using these puzzles in your classroom, please send me an email at sarah@mathequalslove.net with information about what you teach and where you teach. I will be happy to forward an answer key to you.