mpath Game Guide
Each mpath puzzle is a grid of numbers. Your job is to drag operator tiles — +, −, x, ÷, and = — onto the paths connecting adjacent numbers, so that reading along any path forms a valid, balanced equation.
Placing operators
Numbers on the board are connected by paths. Drag an operator tile onto the path between two numbers to place it there. As you connect more numbers together with more operators, you extend the equation along the path. Paths can twist and turn through the grid — they aren’t limited to straight rows or columns, so look carefully at which numbers are actually linked before you commit to an operator.
Complete an equation by placing an = tile between the last two numbers in your path. If the two sides balance, you’ve found a valid equation and it scores points. The Reset button removes the last tile you placed, so you can back out of a path that isn’t working.
Order matters
mpath equations follow the standard order of operations: multiplication and division are evaluated before addition and subtraction, regardless of the order the numbers appear along the path.
1 + 2 x 3 equals 1 + 6, not 3 x 3
That means a path reading “1 + 2 x 3” equals 7 (do the 2 x 3 first), not 9. Keeping this rule in mind is often the key to seeing why a path that looks right on the surface doesn’t actually balance — and why a path that looks odd at first actually does.
Worked example
Consider a path connecting the numbers 7, 1, 6, 2, and 4 in that order, with these operators placed:
7 x 1 − 6 ÷ 2 = 4
Multiplication and division happen first: 7 x 1 = 7, and 6 ÷ 2 = 3. That leaves 7 − 3 = 4, which balances — a valid equation, and since it uses every number on the board, it’s that day’s panrithm.
No fractions
Division only ever needs to produce whole numbers — mpath never requires you to work with fractions. You won’t find a valid path like 1÷3 + 4÷6 = 1, since neither division comes out even. You can, however, still divide freely as long as it works out evenly, for example 8÷2 − 6÷3 = 2.
Difficulty and the daily puzzle
A new puzzle is published every day. Monday’s puzzle is the easiest and difficulty increases through the week, with Sunday’s puzzle the hardest. If you want more practice or missed a day, the in-app archive has past puzzles available to replay.
New to mpath? See the About page for the idea behind the game, or open the in-app interactive tutorial from the puzzle menu.