Number Chain
follow the steps in your head

Play Number Chain — Mental Maths Game

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Type the running total↵ moves to the next boxHint shows a quick method

How to play Number Chain

Number Chain is a quick mental maths workout. You start with one number and follow a chain of steps — add, take away, multiply, divide, halve, square, find a fraction or a percentage.

Easy chains stick to small numbers and times tables. Medium brings squares, roots and fractions; Hard adds percentages; Expert uses bigger numbers and cubes.

Choose Final answer only to keep the whole chain in your head — a favourite classroom warm-up.

How to play Number Chain

Start with a number, follow each step in order, and keep the running total in your head.

The rules

  1. Start with the number at the beginning of the chain.
  2. Do each step to the running total, in order.
  3. Write the total after each step — or only the final answer in the challenge mode.
  4. Every step in a generated chain gives a whole number.

Playing here

  1. Choose every step or final answer only, how many steps, and a level, then press New Puzzle.
  2. Work out each step in your head and type the running total in the box (use the pad or keyboard; ↵ moves on).
  3. Boxes turn green when right. In ‘final answer only’ you keep it all in your head!
  4. Hint fills the next box and shows a quick way to work it out.

Tips

The full guide, with a worked example and common mistakes: How to play Number Chain.

Questions

Which level should children start with?

Easy suits ages 6–8 with tables up to 5 × 5; Medium suits ages 9–11.

Can I set my own chain?

Yes — the Number Chain Solver takes any chain you type and shows the working.

Is it good for a class?

Yes — put the daily chain on the board, or send it to Slate and work it together.

Are negative numbers used?

Generated chains stay positive; the solver accepts any whole-number chain.

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