How word searches work
The math list is classroom vocabulary from arithmetic up to early algebra: fractions, decimals, integers, equations, a quotient, a variable, the perimeter of a shape. It is a common request from teachers, and it works as a quick revision of the terms as much as a puzzle.
QUOTIENT is the fastest find on the list: a Q is the rarest letter in English, and it is followed by a U every time. PERIMETER has a repeated E and R. SUM is three letters and will hide until the end.
The grid regenerates every time you load the page, so the same theme never gives you the same arrangement twice. Words run in all eight directions including backwards and diagonally, and your fastest completion time for each grid size is saved in your browser.
The math word list
| Word | Letters | Notable letters |
|---|---|---|
| FRACTION | 8 | common letters only |
| DECIMAL | 7 | common letters only |
| EQUATION | 8 | Q |
| GEOMETRY | 8 | Y |
| MULTIPLY | 8 | Y |
| DIVIDE | 6 | V |
| ANGLE | 5 | common letters only |
| ALGEBRA | 7 | common letters only |
| QUOTIENT | 8 | Q |
| INTEGER | 7 | common letters only |
| PERIMETER | 9 | common letters only |
| GRAPH | 5 | common letters only |
| SUM | 3 | common letters only |
| VARIABLE | 8 | V |
How to find words faster
- Find the longest math words first. PERIMETER is the longest entry at 9 letters, and long words have far fewer possible placements than short ones. Clearing them early removes a disproportionate share of the grid.
- Target the uncommon letters in this list. The rare letters present here are Q, V, Y. Each one appears only a handful of times in the random filler, so finding the letter usually hands you the word.
- Leave SUM until last. At 3 letters it is the shortest entry, which means it has the most possible positions on the grid and hides best. Short words are always the least efficient thing to hunt first.
- Read every candidate in both directions. Roughly half the placements in any grid are reversed. If an area looks empty, try reading it backwards before moving on.
Frequently asked questions
How many math words are in the puzzle?
Fourteen, spanning arithmetic, fractions, geometry and algebra. On the ten by ten grid the longest may not fit, and the word list shows only what was placed.
Which math word is hardest to find?
SUM. Three common letters and nothing to anchor on. GRAPH is the next hardest because its letters are all common and it is short.
Is it maths or math?
The page uses math because that is what most people searching for it type, but the vocabulary is identical either way and the puzzle works for both.