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Chain Reaction Level 1 Hard maths puzzle involving answer box, chain, question and sequential reasoning

Chain Reaction – Level 1 – Hard

Home » Puzzles » Chain Reaction » Level 1 - Hard » Chain Reaction – Level 1 – Hard
Topics: answer box, chain, question, sequential reasoning

Each answer you find is used inside the next question. Work through the full chain carefully – if you get one wrong, it affects the rest!

Your Workings For Chain Reaction

1) Solve: -(x + 1)(2x + 2) + (x + 5)² = -x² + 10x – 13

A =

2) Use your answer from Q1 as “a”. Now solve: (x – 2)(x + 9) + (a + 3)(x – 4) + (x + 1)² = 2x² + 23x – 89

B =

3) Use your answer from Q2 as “b”. Find the coefficient of x in the expansion of: (x + b)(x + 4)

C =

4) Use your answer from Q3 as “c”. Now solve: (x + 3)² – (x – 1)(x + 7) + c(x – 2) + 2x(x – 5) – (x + 4)(x – 5) = x² + 11x + 28

D =

5) Use your answer from Q4 as “d”. Now factorise: 1x² + dx + -27

E =

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Reveal Answer
Additional instructions for Chain Reaction (Level 1, Hard)

Chain Reaction – Hard

Translate the instruction first: in Hard puzzles, the wording matters as much as the algebra.

  • “Solve” → isolate the variable and compute.
  • “Simplify” → expand/collect terms; do not solve unless asked.
  • “Coefficient of x” → simplify, then take the number multiplying x.
  • “Factorise” → rewrite into brackets (and check by re-expanding mentally).

Check: many Hard mistakes come from answering the wrong thing for the step.

Full help: Chain Reaction

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