Nerdle Explained

Nerdle is a spinoff of the very popular Wordle game, except this is played by solving a numeric equation. I think some folks are reluctant to try it, thinking it requires above average mathematical skills. It doesn’t, just some basic math that most of us probably learned well enough in junior high to play and enjoy Nerdle.

Rules

• 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.
• Standard order of operations applies, so calculate * and / before + and – eg. 3+2*5=13 not 25!
• If the answer we’re looking for is 10+20=30, then we will accept 20+10=30 too (unless you turn off ‘commutative answers’ in settings).

The following is a screen shot of my first try for Nerdle game 67, which I played on Saturday evening, 3/26/22.

What I have found that works well for me is to:

1. Select 2 operators, with 3 different numbers, followed by the =sign, then a 2 digit answer that does not contain any previous numbers. This “guess” is unlikely, but eliminates as many numbers and operators as possible. I do a different start every time, but using those parameters.
2. The guess above told me a lot, better than average. First off the solution contains a 5,6 & 0. It does not contain a 1 or 3.
3. The guess contains / and it is in the right spot! Yeah.
4. It does not contain * and the = is in the wrong spot.
5. Given the location of the / , it is only possible that a 3 digit number is to the left. Not enough room for another operator.
6. Where does the = sign need to be? Well, it cannot be immediately after the /, so it needs to be in the next to the last position.
7. That means, the number to the right of the / is 2 digits and the answer is a single digit.

I’m getting closer to figuring out my next guess. This next part takes a little thinking and it took me a bit of time to get better at it. I am way better at multiplying a single number by a 2 digit number than dividing 3 digits by 2 digits. So, in my head, I start to think of what number to try first to the right of the = sign.

After a bit of thought, I decided to try 5. Why? Well, I know multiplying any 2 digit even number by 5 will force my 3 digit number to end in 0. That’s one of the numbers I’ve been told has to be contained in the answer.

Well, I can use any even 2 digit number, why not use “6”, since I know that’s in the solution. I don’t know that’s the right spot, but I’m making life easier for myself.

The numbers to run through my head are: 26, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86 & 96.

1. 5*26 = 130 (nope, can’t have a 1 or 3)
2. 5*46 = 230 (nope)
3. 5*56 = 280
4. 5*66 = 330 (nope)
5. 5*76 = 380 (nope)
6. 5*86 = 430 (nope)
7. 5*96 = 480

Well, there we have 2 possible answers. Are there any other answers? Maybe, but I don’t want to work that hard. I’ve got 2 possibilities, picking 1 of them will give me more information. If it’s wrong, maybe I won’t need to do much more thinking.

So, I pick 5*96. that’s 1 more new digit, picking 5 and getting it wrong leaves me with less information. Plus, anyone that knows me, knows I’m very bad at 50:50 choices.

Wow! Only 1 remaining answer.

Not all come this quickly, but after a few weeks doing these most nights, I find it to be a lot of fun. You can do this exact same game, every Nerdle game can be played again. This is Game # 67. If you put in the date I played, 3/27, it might give you a different number, just adjust the date by the difference in the number. Maybe you’ll find a better approach to this one than I found.

This is a link to my Nerdle Game 67 – Retry.