Daily Triplets

About Daily Triplets

Daily Triplets is based on a classic psychology experiment, Wason's 2-4-6 task, in which people are shown a sequence that fits a rule and have to discover the rule by proposing more examples. Here the examples are three digits from 0 to 9, and each day has a new secret rule.

The board starts with one triplet that fits today's rule, such as 1 2 3. You enter any three digits and press Test: a tick means the rule accepts them, a cross means it does not. There is no limit on tests, and the list of results can be sorted to spot the pattern.

When you think you have it, press I know the rule and write it as an equation in the three digits. The game checks your answer against all 1,000 possible triplets, so any equivalent way of writing it counts, and if it is wrong it shows a triplet where your rule and the real one disagree. You have three attempts.

The trap the original experiment is known for is only testing examples you expect to fit. Testing triplets you expect to fail is what tells you where the rule's edges are. Puzzles are numbered, a calendar lets you play earlier days, and a streak tracks your daily run.

How to play Daily Triplets

1. Read the triplet that fits today's rule.
2. Enter three digits and press Test to see if they fit (tick) or not (cross).
3. Keep testing until you can describe the rule.
4. Press I know the rule and write it as an equation in the three digits.
5. You have three attempts; a wrong one shows a counterexample.

Tips

• Test triplets you expect to be rejected: they tell you more than ones you expect to fit.
• Change one digit at a time to see which position matters.
• Try zeros, repeated digits and descending orders early, since many rules break on them.

Questions