Sum-It

Sum-It's procedurally-generated code-breaking puzzles are designed for math or computer science nerds—or both! The problems become geometrically harder as you ascend the grades.

You score more points the quicker you crack the cipher and the fewer moves you take. Points unlock the next grade of expedition. If the math gets too hard, you could write a computer program to automate and accelerate solution-finding. This is possible only in the downloadable version (PC/Mac).

Here's a simple arithmetic expression turned into symbols using a cipher:

A$B = 5

If "$" represents either adding or subtracting, and "A" and "B" are distinct digits from 1 - 9, what are the possible solutions for the cipher? Now what about this expression?

AB$BC%A = -22

This time, there are three numbers ("operands"), three unique digits, and two operators. The first number is "AB", which is "A" in the tens place and "B" in the units place. Suppose I've picked exactly one mapping to be your target solution. You may switch a letter with another to see how the sum will change. This could help you narrow down which solution to choose more quickly than trying all possible solutions. How few switches can you solve this in? How fast can you do it? Can you write a program to make it quicker?

Compete against others online for free via the "ground-breaking" Worldwide Sum-It of Leaders™️.

---

To save progress across sessions anonymously, you will choose a pseudonym and receive a unique Climber ID. Unless you manually record your Climber ID offline, you will not be able to recover it in a different session (unfortunately, clipboard actions only work in the game's downloadable version). For purely online Climbers, stored IDs that have not been used or have not appeared in the leaderboard for 30 days may be deleted from the server.

Play the downloadable version (PC/Mac) to:

• Secure your Climber IDs permanently (no purges for inactivity)
• Use the API to reach the higher grades (includes example client code)
• Unlock the fourth music track
• Upgraded sound effect quality compared to the browser version
• Own high quality, loopable mp3s of the soundtrack
• Convenient use of clipboard actions to copy & paste data

(Using the itch.io app installer is recommended, which will also help keep the game updated.)

Sum-It features four original music tracks by Ripple County Primary. 

Sum-It originated as a mini-game within the upcoming sci-fi hacking simulator, OPERANDi.

Future updates may include: fully offline play with local save state, browser cache save state in online play, more achievements.

By the way, the target solution to the second puzzle example was: 36-61+3 = -22.

Find out more at https://robclewley.com/transient-dynamic/, @robclewley.bsky.social, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy4lBXtLOJzDoEK217GcfIA