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Order of Operations Puzzles

This collection of order of operations puzzles will give your students plenty of puzzling fun while applying the order of operations to a large number of numerical expressions.

order of operations puzzles using pemdas

Each order of operations puzzle is available to download as a free PDF so you can easily implement the puzzle in your upper elementary, middle school, or high school mathematics classroom!

Printable Number Challenges

After so many teachers had success using the Twos to Nines Challenge with their students during the first week of school, I decided to turn it into a collection of free printable order of operations puzzles that can be used throughout the entire school year.

Twos Challenge

twos challenge

Can you solve the Twos Challenge? Can you use exactly four twos and your choice of arithmetical symbols to form the target numbers?

Threes Challenge

threes challenge

Using exactly four threes, add arithmetical symbols between the threes to make each of the target numbers. You may use plus, minus, times, and divide symbols, as well as parentheses and brackets for grouping.

Fours Challenge

screenshot of fours challenge

In this simplified version of the four fours challenge, students must use exactly four fours with mathematical operations to create expressions equivalent to the 8 provided numbers.

Fives Challenge

screenshot of fives challenge puzzle 

Can you solve the Fives Challenge? Can you use exactly four fives and your choice of arithmetical symbols to form the target numbers?

Sixes Challenge

screenshot of template of sixes challenge

Using exactly four sixes, add arithmetical symbols between the threes to make each of the target numbers. You may use plus, minus, times, and divide symbols, as well as parentheses and brackets for grouping.

The sevens, eights, and nines challenge are coming soon!

Holiday-Themed Order of Operations Puzzles

I love finding ways to fit some math practice into celebrating various holidays throughout the school year. Check out these holiday-themed order of operations puzzles.

Yearly Number Challenge

2024 yearly number challenge

Ring in the new year with the yearly number challenge! How many numbers from 1 to 100 can you make using the digits in the current calendar year?

Miss using this puzzle at New Years? Guess what – you can use it for the entire rest of the school year as well!

12-25 Christmas Number Challenge

partially completed 12-25 christmas number challenge

Can you create numerical expressions for the numbers from 1 to 25 using each of the digits 1, 2, 2, and 5 exactly one time each?

This 12-25 Christmas Number Challenge is more accessible to younger students than challenges like the classic Four Fours Puzzle.

I have quite a few more Christmas math puzzles that are available to download for free as well!

3-1-4 Pi Day Number Challenge

pi day number challenge hanging on dry erase board in math classroom 

This 3-1-4 Pi Day Challenge was a HUGE hit with my students. Using each of the digits 3, 1, and 4 one time each, add your choice of mathematical symbols to make expressions equal to as many different numbers as possible.

Are you interested in more Pi Day math activities? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Pi Day in math class!

Twosday Challenge Activity

twosday challenge number puzzle.

Twosday (2/2/22) was a big deal for math teachers. I created this Twosday Challenge to help math teachers celebrate with their students, and it was incredibly popular!

I also rebranded this same puzzle as the Twos Challenge.

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