How to Play the 24 Game — Rules for Beginners

rule The four rules

1 Four numbers. You start with four values, often drawn from 1–13 like playing cards, but apps may use other ranges.
2 Four operations. You may use addition (+), subtraction (−), multiplication (×), and division (÷).
3 Use each number once. Every given number must appear exactly one time in your final expression.
4 Hit exactly 24. The result must equal 24 — not 23.9, not 25. Parentheses are allowed to control order of operations.

history_edu What is the 24 game?

The 24 game (also called make 24 or 24 point) is a classic mental math puzzle. You receive four numbers and must combine them with basic arithmetic to reach exactly 24.

Invented in 1988 by educator Robert Sun, it spread through classrooms worldwide — a fun way to practice arithmetic fluency and logical thinking.

calculate A simple example

Suppose the puzzle is 4, 6, 2, 6. One valid solution is:

(6 + 6) × (4 − 2) = 12 × 2 = 24

Each number is used once. There are often multiple correct paths — finding any one valid solution counts as a win.

data_object What about parentheses?

Parentheses change which operation happens first. For example, 8 ÷ (3 − 8 ÷ 3) is a famous solution for 3, 8, 3, 8.

Without parentheses, standard order of operations applies (multiply/divide before add/subtract). See our worked examples for step-by-step breakdowns.

error Common mistakes

Reusing a number — each tile counts once only.
Leaving a number out — all four must participate in the expression.
Non-integer division — fractional steps (e.g. 8 ÷ 3) are allowed if the final result is 24.
Approximating — the goal is exactly 24.