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.
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