Number Factoring Game

This is an old math exercise often called the "Taxman". Here's how it works.
  • Pick a number from the board in a black circle

  • You get the value of the number (shown in green)

  • Your opponent, the taxman, gets all the factors of that number that remain on the board (shown in red)

  • When no more numbers remain that have factors, the taxman gets all those too!

Think you can beat the taxman? Start by clicking a number!
Congratulations!
You beat the taxman by
You lost by
😞
You tied the taxman!
Your best score is 0:0
Score:
0:0
Your Picks:
Taxman's Take:
+2
Level 49
Jun 2, 2021
ayo one shot won by 65
+1
Level 46
Jun 3, 2021
I Lost by 23 on my third try. I'll try again sometime later.
+1
Level 28
Jun 10, 2021
What's the largest possible loss?
+1
Level 29
Jul 11, 2021
I lost 243 on my 3rd try
+1
Level 29
Jul 11, 2021
Then 391
+1
Level 29
Jul 11, 2021
And 429
+1
Level 29
Jul 11, 2021
Closely followed by 435
+1
Level 40
Sep 2, 2021
i lost by 463 bruh
+1
Level 29
Jul 11, 2021
I did:

47, 49, 45, 33, 39, 36, 50, 46, 38, 44, 24, 28, 34, 42, 48, 40

+2
Level 46
Aug 9, 2021
lost by 15 :(
+1
Level 22
Aug 13, 2021
won by 5 points. 640-635 so lucky

47, 38, 27, 46, 36, 24, 35, 28, 26, 48, 45, 30, 40, 50, 34, 44, 42

+3
Level 67
Aug 17, 2021
I was gonna say this was easier than I expected and then the taxman got everything in the end and I got crushed rip
+1
Level 67
Aug 17, 2021
Lost by 21
+1
Level 67
Aug 17, 2021
There I won by 117

47, 49, 35, 39, 33, 14, 28, 12, 24, 20, 30, 27, 44, 42, 48, 46, 34, 36, 38, 50

+2
Level 45
Sep 16, 2021
Win by 209

47, 49, 35, 39, 26, 46, 33, 45, 38, 44, 34, 28, 50, 30, 42, 40, 32, 48, 36

+1
Level 33
Sep 23, 2021
After figuring the game out and multiple failed attempts, I managed to win, with a score of 652-623. My choice order was 47, 49, 25, 22, 44, 26, 46, 34, 38, 50, 40, 32, 28, 48, 45, 42, and 36.
+1
Level 36
Oct 16, 2021
I got 476/799
+1
Level 81
Nov 18, 2021
I somehow won by guessing. If you want to beat him by 7 and give yourself a heart attack, then use the following numbers: 13, 26, 39, 8, 10, 40, 30, 50, 49, 27, 46, 36, 38, 28, 48, 34, 33, 42, and finally, 44. Great game if you are willing to persevere and frustrate yourself every time you lose, winning is extremely worth it.

(Just don't read my comment if you want to win with integrity. Enjoy =).)

+1
Level 50
Jan 6, 2022
i hate this one
+1
Level 66
Jan 16, 2022
I won by 27 by clicking randomly 😎
+1
Level 26
Jan 20, 2022
won by 1 XD
+1
Level 63
Jan 23, 2022
First win with 47, 49, 35, 21, 27, 45, 39, 33, 50, 24, 28, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 46

I gave up at the end thinking I had already lost but turns out I won

+1
Level 60
Feb 2, 2022
Let’s go, finally beat it by 51 (I know I’m dumb).

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩πŸŸ₯🟩

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

+1
Level 60
Feb 2, 2022
How am I the only one who’s used squares so far???
+1
Level 63
Feb 15, 2022
Because you haven't given the order of selection, if you don't do it in the right order you won't be able to pick all those squares.
+1
Level 60
May 3, 2022
I obviously know that. Don’t you agree it ruins the fun by just giving the order? This way you have something to strive for but you have to figure out the order.
+1
Level 28
Feb 13, 2022
I beat the taxman by 1! (638-637) Here's how you do it: 47, 49, 35, 28, 44, 42, 46, 30, 38, 39, 32, 50, 34, 36, 40, 48
+1
Level 35
Jun 19, 2022
Me too!
+1
Level 45
Feb 22, 2022
i lost by 391
+2
Level 29
Feb 22, 2022
πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩πŸŸ₯🟩

πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

And beat him by 211

+1
Level 29
Feb 23, 2022
And is it possible to tie?
+2
Level 68
Feb 23, 2022
Yes it is possible!
+1
Level 70
May 1, 2022
It isn't possible because the sum of all the numbers is odd, so a tie would require getting a non-integer number of points.
+1
Level 67
Mar 5, 2022
This is stressful.
+1
Level 32
Apr 11, 2022
Y E S ! ! !
+1
Level 34
Apr 14, 2022
Playing 7 rounds, I loss by 11, next round, won by 11

, next round, 277

+1
Level 35
May 27, 2022
638-637 I won!
+1
Level 31
May 27, 2022
I lost by 71 points :( was 601-672
+1
Level 32
Jun 9, 2022
i won by 71!
+2
Level 42
Jun 10, 2022
use this to win the taxman

23, 25, 15, 21, 14, 22, 20, 16, 18, 24, 26, 38, 34.

+1
Level 32
Jun 15, 2022
hello 5 days later
+1
Level 35
Jun 19, 2022
I win by 1 pointπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
+1
Level 34
Jul 11, 2022
No
+1
Level 34
Jul 11, 2022
Aka

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩

🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩

+1
Level 64
Jul 23, 2022
won 728:547

47 49 35 27 10 20 30 40 50 39 33 28 36 38 32 34 42 44 46 48

+1
Level 69
Jul 25, 2022
Beat him by 17

47, 49, 27, 50, 33, 39, 34, 45, 48, 28, 40, 46, 36, 42, 38, 44

+1
Level 84
Jul 30, 2022
Finally, I won by 99. I love this!
+1
Level 35
Sep 1, 2022
Beat the taxman by 31 - 47,49,46,35,50,15,45,40,30,48,38,36,26,44,28,42,34
+1
Level 8
Sep 3, 2022
I beat him by 35
+1
Level 55
Sep 20, 2022
Actually just beat the taxman by 5, damn πŸ˜…πŸ˜‚
+1
Level 65
Oct 6, 2022
Kinda got obsessed. Best score 798. Anyone get better? I think I finally found the optimal formula.
+2
Level 68
Oct 6, 2022
The best ever by anybody is 808.
+1
Level 31
Mar 20, 2023
i got 808 to 467
+1
Level 59
May 2, 2023
Same
+1
Level 38
Oct 9, 2022
47, 4, 49, 46, 44, 39, 38, 34, 35, 27, 40, 30, 50, 48, 28, 36, 42 to lose by 1
+1
Level 36
Oct 9, 2022
Lost by 43. So close!
+1
Level 36
Oct 9, 2022
Won by 187!!!! 731: 534!
+1
Level 36
Oct 9, 2022
Won by 3!
+1
Level 65
Oct 10, 2022
Finally, after days of obsession, I got 808. I don’t know what to do with the rest of my life.
+1
Level 42
Jan 8, 2023
I managed to win by 95 685:590. Here's how I did it 47, 49, 25, 50, 40, 9, 36, 33, 44, 39, 45, 28, 32, 34, 38, 48, 46, 42
+1
Level 42
Apr 30, 2023
Now 115 by taking 47,49,25,50,27,33,45,39,24,48,28,34,36,38,40,42,44,46
+1
Level 32
Jan 17, 2023
Here is how to win by 1 point: 47, 49, 27, 15, 33, 39, 44, 46, 34, 12, 24, 32, 42, 36, 38, 30, 40, 50
+1
Level 19
Feb 13, 2023
47, 49, 35, 21, 39, 33, 26, 46, 38, 34, 27, 20, 42, 36, 48, 50, 45, 44

Won by 85

+2
Level 75
Feb 13, 2023
either i've misunderstood the instructions, or they don't include the idea that when you pick a prime number, the others are struck out? all it says is that if you pick one the taxman gets its factors, and at the end the taxman gets the numbers with no factors left - but there's no clause saying how all primes after the first one are out of the game, could you add this to the instructions?
+1
Level 57
Feb 17, 2023
I barely won...

I beat the Taxman! Score 644:631

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

https://www.jetpunk.com/minigames/number-factoring-game

+1
Level 46
Feb 22, 2023
I beat the Taxman! Score 657:618

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩

πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

https://www.jetpunk.com/minigames/number-factoring-game

+1
Level 38
Mar 23, 2023
I lost by one. 47,44,49,38,6,34,28,39,10,50,30,40,46,42,18,36,32,48
+1
Level 32
Mar 27, 2023
I beat taxman by 129 choose these numbers:

47, 49, 35, 15, 33, 12, 32, 42, 34, 44, 45, 46, 36, 26, 38, 48, 30, 40, 50

+1
Level 17
Mar 29, 2023
Here is a fun challenge if you've mastered the strategy, try to lose by as many as possible. (My PB is 429, but I haven't done it that much)
+1
Level 17
Apr 25, 2023
459 now!
+1
Level 42
May 13, 2023
Lost by 547

21 22 24 25 18 20 30 26 28 32 34 38 46

+1
Level 47
Apr 6, 2023
47, 49, 39, 27, 18, 10, 40, 50, 30, 33, 44, 36, 34, 28, 42, 48, 38, 46. Beat him by 43
+1
Level 21
May 1, 2023
choose the lowest numbers you can and you lose by 391. Yay
+1
Level 24
May 2, 2023
47, 10, 20, 40, 50, 38, 33, 46, 26, 34, 30, 28, 44, 32, 45, 42, 48, 36

only beat him by 23

+1
Level 24
May 2, 2023
my record for losing: 20, 18, 16, 14, 30, 26, 24, 22, 38, 34, 46, 50, 42

lost by 515 points!

+2
Level 24
May 2, 2023
also whats the highest anyone has ever won by?
+1
Level 39
Aug 6, 2023
I think the best possible score is 808:467, but I may be wrong.

There's academic papers you can refer to on this as well, if you're interested... look up Robert K. Moniot and Taxman Game.

+1
Level 16
May 4, 2023
I beat the taxman 667:608
+1
Level 28
May 22, 2023
HOW???????
+1
Level 42
May 14, 2023
I lost by 551 23, 25, 20, 24, 28, 32, 18, 30, 22, 26, 34, 38, 42
+1
Level 43
Jun 2, 2023
and now by 569 23, 25, 16, 6, 18, 20, 24, 22, 14, 26, 38, 34, 45, 42
+1
Level 48
Jun 4, 2023
I beat the Taxman! Score 639:636

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩

https://www.jetpunk.com/minigames/number-factoring-game

I barely beat him :0

+1
Level 19
Jun 10, 2023
Lost by 227 just what i had a score of 500+ : 750+

I put my hand on the Bible I picked 50, 45, 40, and other big numbers!

+1
Level 57
Jul 9, 2023
I beat him by 105 with 47, 49, 8, 32, 25, 27, 45, 12, 48, 33, 44, 34, 26, 36, 28, 38, 46, 42, 30, 40
+1
Level 49
Jul 20, 2023
I beat him by 11
+1
Level 34
Aug 22, 2023
Win by 79: 47, 49, 46, 35, 26, 39, 8, 32, 48, 28, 38, 27, 36, 34, 50, 30, 40, 22, 42
+1
Level 55
Sep 11, 2023
Yay I won by 199 with 47, 49, 35, 15, 45, 39, 33, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 28, 38, 24, 34, 44, 32, 42, 36, 46
+1
Level 16
Sep 30, 2023
Win by 105, with this sequence: 47, 49, 38, 26, 34, 46, 39, 42, 33, 44, 35, 32, 24, 45, 36, 30, 40, 50
+2
Level 60
Oct 7, 2023
won by 149 yayy

I beat the Taxman! Score 712:563

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩πŸŸ₯πŸŸ₯

πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩

πŸŸ₯🟩πŸŸ₯🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

my numbers - 47, 49, 35, 34, 50, 46, 38, 28, 26, 44, 40, 33, 32, 27, 45, 12, 48, 36, 42

+1
Level 43
Oct 9, 2023
I finally won by 17
+1
Level 48
Oct 23, 2023
47, 21, 39, 33, 26, 12, 42, 50, 30, 16, 44, 45, 40, 38, 34, 36, 46, 48, also won by 17. Really good game. Stressful at the end when they add up all the extra numbers and you just worry it’s going to be too much.
+1
Level 58
Oct 27, 2023
I won 638-637 with 47, 49, 25, 27, 46, 39, 30, 34, 33, 28, 44, 40, 38, 42, 32, 48, 36
+1
Level 26
Nov 2, 2023
idr the order but i picked 25, 30, 33, 34, 36, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, and 50 and won 646:629
+1
Level 33
Jan 18, 2024
511:764
+1
Level 33
Jan 18, 2024
578:697
+1
Level 63
Jan 20, 2024
Finally beat this game after years

47, 49, 35, 45, 33, 39, 46, 38, 34, 30, 50, 44, 28, 42, 32, 36, 40, 48

+1
Level 1
Feb 4, 2024
Win by 153

47,49,26,39,33,35,28,18,38,34,44,46,16,36,48,45,40,42,50.

+1
Level 66
Feb 11, 2024
I got 807:468
+1
Level 48
Feb 18, 2024
I attempted to lose by as much as possible, managed to lose by 683 by picking 23, 25, 15, 21, 14, 18, 16, 24, 20, 22, 26, 34, 38
+1
Level 48
Feb 18, 2024
The thought process here is to take smaller numbers that block larger numbers from being taken. So 23 blocks 46, 25 blocks 50, 15 blocks 45 (along with 18 which takes 9), 21 and 14 together block 42 (21+14=35 so this is worth it) and also take 7 which blocks 49, 16 and 24 together block 48 (also worth it since 16+24=40), and 20 blocks 40. Using this strategy, you don't have to take any number in the 40s