October’s Nerdle Game

十月的 NERDLE 数字游戏

Once we enter the website https://nerdlegame.com we get the above image of six rows of eight blank cells. We need to place the numbers (1 to 9) and the equal sign ( = ) and the four operational signs ( + – * / ) into the eight cells to guess the equation that forms the solution (which is an equation, occupying eight cell spaces with the equal sign ” = ” taking up one of these eight spots).

We are then required to guess the envisaged equation (the solution) in six attempts by filling each of the cells with the digits and the six signs (four operational signs – addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and the equal sign). What we normally do to start the game is to select a correct equation that comprises of two operational signs (multiply and plus) and five different digits, plus the equal sign. We know logically that the equal sign ( = ) must be located at the right hand side of the equation, in either the fifth, sixth, or seventh position.

For 1st October 2022, we start with the equation: 7 * 6 + 3 = 4 5. The result: four purple-coloured cells indicating the right digit or sign but in the wrong positions. The black cell shows that the solution has no multiply sign ( * ) , not plus sign ( + ) and no ” 4 ” and ” 6 ” digits.

The next guess of ours is the equation: 3 5 / 5 - 0 = 7. The ” - ” sign and the ” = ” are in the correct cells. The digit ” 7 ” is green - right digit in the right position. The digits ” 3 ” and ” 5 ” are in the solution but in the wrong position.

Our third guess: 1 3 - 1 - 5 = 7 proofs to be correct, all greens.

First Attempt: 9 * 8 + 3 = 7 5 Result: 9, +, and = are greens. 7 is purple. 3, 5, 8, and + are not in the solution.

Second Attempt: Test for minus ( - ). 9 * 2 - 7 = 1 1. Result: minus ( - ) and 1 are not part of the solution. 2, and 7, are in the wrong positions.

Third Attempt: 9 * 6 / 2 =2 7 is all greens.

First Attempt: 2 * 9 + 8 = 2 6. Only the equal sign ( = ) is green. Digits 2 and 9 are purple.

Second Attempt: 3 9 - 2 5 = 14. The minus sign ( - ) and the equal sign ( = ) are green. The digit 2 is green. Digits 3 and 9 are purple.

Third Attempt: 9 3 - 2 3 = 7 0. Digits 3 and 0 are purple. The rest are green. This can only mean that our fourth attempt will be successful.

Logically therefore our fourth attempt is: 9 3 - 2 0 = 7 3. All greens.