Make the Target — Building Expressions (Grade 5)
In a "make the target" puzzle, you're given some numbers and a target, and you combine the numbers with operations (+, −, ×, ÷) to hit it. There's often more than one correct path — any valid expression that equals the target counts. The skill is flexible thinking: try an operation, see how close you get, adjust.
Understanding make the target
In a "make the target" puzzle, you're given some numbers and a target, and you combine the numbers with operations (+, −, ×, ÷) to hit it. There's often more than one correct path — any valid expression that equals the target counts. The skill is flexible thinking: try an operation, see how close you get, adjust.
Key Idea
In a "make the target" puzzle, you're given some numbers and a target, and you combine the numbers with operations (+, −, ×, ÷) to hit it. There's often more than one correct path — any valid expression that equals the target counts. The skill is flexible thinking: try an operation, see how close you get, adjust.
Seeing it in action
Worked example
Use 5, 4, and 3 to make 17.
5 × 4 = 20, then 20 − 3 = 17. → 5 × 4 − 3 = 17. (Another path: 3 × 4 + 5 = 17.)
Build an expression that lands on the target.
Try a few
Use 2, 3, 4 to make 10.
one path.
Use 6, 2, 1 to make 13.
Use 8, 4, 2 to make 4.
Make the Target
A calm operations game for choosing operators, evaluating expressions, and placing brackets.
Ready for the interactive lab?
Practice make the target in Numeris with instant feedback.
Put the reasoning on paper.
Try six fraction, angle, perimeter and area questions with explained answers, for grades 4–6.
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