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

Chain Reaction – Level 1 – Hard

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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 + 2)(2x – 2) + (x + 6)² = -x² + 14x + 16

A =

2) Use your answer from Q1 as “a”. Now solve: (x – 2)(x + 9) + (a + 3)(x – 4) + (x + 1)² = 2x² + 23x – 78

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 + 3x + 39

D =

5) Use your answer from Q4 as “d”. Now factorise: 1x² + dx + -60

E =

Reveal the Answer

Additional instructions for Chain Reaction (Level 1, Hard)

Chain Reaction – Hard

Use a two-column layout: it keeps complex chains manageable.

  • Left: the current step rewritten after substitution (so it’s standalone).
  • Right: your running list of solved values (a, b, c…), boxed.

Why it helps: you can instantly see whether you’re using the right input at each stage, and you reduce accidental mix-ups.

Full help: Chain Reaction

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