Make 33 with four 9s

The classic four nines puzzle: build an expression from exactly four 9s that equals 33. 33 cannot be made with + - × ÷, concatenation, or decimals (the solver checked every expression) — solutions need square roots, factorials, or exponents.

Solutions using only + - × ÷

No expression made of four plain 9s and + - × ÷ reaches 33 — the solver checked every possible expression.

Solutions with concatenation and decimals

Concatenation and decimals do not help for 33 either — every combination was checked.

Solutions with square roots, factorials, exponents

99 × sqrt(9) / 9 = 33
99 / 9 × sqrt(9) = 33
9 + 9 + 9 + sqrt(9)! = 33
9.9 × sqrt(9) / .9 = 33
9.9 / .9 × sqrt(9) = 33

…and 248 more at this tier.

253 distinct solutions found in total, after removing trivial rearrangements.

How 33 compares

33 has 253 distinct solutions across all three tiers — #23 most plentiful of all 100 targets. Next door, 32 has 3 solutions and 34 has 16 solutions.

If 33 went down easily, make 32 with four 9s — 3 solutions, the nearest step up in scarcity.

Make 32 with four 9s · Make 34 with four 9s

The Number Lab

Same idea, different constraints: four 9s, four 4s, or any four digits you like.

Four Nines — the daily puzzle
Four Nines solver — every target, solved
Four Fours — the 1881 original
Four Fours solver — including the impossible five
Make 24 solver — any four digits
Today's 24 — one new hand a day

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Four Nines — the daily puzzle: four 9s, one target, new at midnight
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