Much like Wordle, or Mastermind: Numberle is a position guessing game where you guess calculations of numbers. Each guess must be a valid mathematical calculation, with one equal sign, and only a number on the right of the equals. You can use: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, +, -, *, /, or = in each guess.
Some sites give you the standard Nerdle, with 8 tiles per equation once per day. And an unlimited number of 5 tile long games.
If you want to learn more about the 8 tile long Nerdle, see my other story about that here.
This story is about the 5 tile version. You get 6 tries to guess a calculation that is 5 tiles long.
Similar to Wordle, after your guess, the tiles will change color, with a orange tile indicating that you picked the right digit or operation but it’s in the wrong spot. The green tile indicates that you picked the right digit or operation in the correct spot. The gray tile indicates that the digit or operation you picked is not included in the equation at all. (Confusingly, in high contrast mode, these colors change to blue, orange and grey)
The rules are simple:
- Each guess is a calculation.
- You can use: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + — * / or =.
- It must contain one “=”.
- It must only have a number to the right of the “=”, not another calculation.
- The standard order of operations applies, so calculate * and / before + and -
Many of the tips and tricks for Wordle, also apply for solving your Nerdle.
I find that a big part of my success in solving a Nerdle is in choosing the right one or two opening calculations.
- Start with the same calculations every time.
- Start with a triplet of calculations that use all the digits and operations.
- Pick a triplet of different calculations for the first 3 guesses.
Sometimes, after seeing which digits and operations appear in the first one or two starter calculations, you can arrange them in ways that make valid calculations for your third guess. Other times, you might need the third equation in the triplet.
Unless you are playing in hard mode, don’t be afraid to use calculations that don’t use the tiles that you already know belong in a certain location. There is no point in putting the same digits over and over, on each guess. Instead, use some double tiles, in those spots to figure out which tiles are repeated. If your guess includes, say, two 1s but the answer has only one, you will get one color tile and one black. If the answer has two 1s you will instead see both 1s as colored tiles.
Rather than just tell you one or two of these triplets, I have generated the full list, you might find a combination of numbers that are meaningful for you, so you can remember it better, perhaps a birthday or anniversary.
Each triplets covers 9 of the 10 digits and 3 of the 4 operators.
( 1+7=8; 2*3=6; 9–4=5 )
( 1+7=8; 2*3=6; 9–5=4 )
( 1+7=8; 3*2=6; 9–4=5 )
( 1+7=8; 3*2=6; 9–5=4 )
( 1+7=8; 6/2=3; 9–4=5 )
( 1+7=8; 6/2=3; 9–5=4 )
( 1+7=8; 6/3=2; 9–4=5 )
( 1+7=8; 6/3=2; 9–5=4 )
( 2*3=6; 4+5=9; 8–1=7 )
( 2*3=6; 4+5=9; 8–7=1 )
( 2*3=6; 5+4=9; 8–1=7 )
( 2*3=6; 5+4=9; 8–7=1 )
( 2*3=6; 7+1=8; 9–4=5 )
( 2*3=6; 7+1=8; 9–5=4 )
( 3*2=6; 4+5=9; 8–1=7 )
( 3*2=6; 4+5=9; 8–7=1 )
( 3*2=6; 5+4=9; 8–1=7 )
( 3*2=6; 5+4=9; 8–7=1 )
( 3*2=6; 7+1=8; 9–4=5 )
( 3*2=6; 7+1=8; 9–5=4 )
( 4+5=9; 6/2=3; 8–1=7 )
( 4+5=9; 6/2=3; 8–7=1 )
( 4+5=9; 6/3=2; 8–1=7 )
( 4+5=9; 6/3=2; 8–7=1 )
( 5+4=9; 6/2=3; 8–1=7 )
( 5+4=9; 6/2=3; 8–7=1 )
( 5+4=9; 6/3=2; 8–1=7 )
( 5+4=9; 6/3=2; 8–7=1 )
( 6/2=3; 7+1=8; 9–4=5 )
( 6/2=3; 7+1=8; 9–5=4 )
( 6/3=2; 7+1=8; 9–4=5 )
( 6/3=2; 7+1=8; 9–5=4 )
