Number Salad #396 Overview
On December 21, 2025, Number Salad reached puzzle #396 - Hermit Crab - with 5 targets to hit using 5 number tiles: 1, 3, 5, 9, 10. The targets span from 45 to 90, and the largest single tile value is 10. Browse the full Number Salad archive for all solved puzzles.
All 5 solutions use multiplication. The longest expression draws on 6 numbers. Every tile from this set appears in at least one solution. Number Salad evaluates expressions left to right without standard operator precedence - 9 + 9 * 5 computes as (9 + 9) * 5, not 9 + 45. Tiles can repeat across solutions.
For the same date, the Word Salad daily puzzle challenges you with words instead of numbers but uses the same solve-order discipline - longest entry first. The tips and strategy guide covers techniques that transfer across both games. Browse today's Number Salad puzzle or the full archive.
Puzzle #396 Statistics
Puzzle #396 Tiles
Every solution below draws from these 5 tiles - tiles can repeat across solutions.
Solutions and Step-by-Step Working
| # | Target | Expression | Steps (left to right) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 | 9 * 5 | 9*5=45 |
| 2 | 90 | 9 + 9 * 5 | 9+9=18, 18*5=90 |
| 3 | 69 | 10 * 5 + 9 + 10 | 10*5=50, 50+9=59, 59+10=69 |
| 4 | 61 | 10 * 5 + 9 -1 + 3 | 10*5=50, 50+9=59, 59-1=58, 58+3=61 |
| 5 | 88 | 3 + 1 + 10 * 5 + 9 + 9 | 3+1=4, 4+10=14, 14*5=70, 70+9=79, 79+9=88 |
About This Puzzle
Number Salad is a daily arithmetic puzzle from Bleppo LTD, the team behind Word Salad. Each puzzle gives you number tiles and target values to reach using addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Expressions evaluate left to right with no standard precedence rules and tiles can repeat across different solutions. A fresh Number Salad puzzle publishes every day.
Nearby Puzzles
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the answers for Number Salad #396?
Puzzle #396 has 5 target values: 45, 61, 69, 88, 90. The full solution expressions and step-by-step working are in the table above.
What tiles does Number Salad puzzle #396 use?
Number Salad puzzle #396 uses 5 tiles: 1, 3, 5, 9, 10.
What order do operations happen in Number Salad?
Number Salad evaluates all expressions strictly left to right with no operator precedence. In 9 + 9 * 5, the game computes (9 + 9) * 5 first, not 9 + 45. Every solution on this page follows the same left-to-right rule.
When was Number Salad puzzle #396 published?
Number Salad #396 was published on December 21, 2025. Browse the full archive at wordsaladanswers.info/number-salad/.
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