Crossclimb 747 Answer & Solution Guide
Answer: TIMES MINUS 🌟
🎮 Puzzle Overview
Today's Crossclimb #747 features a word ladder connecting TIMES at the top to MINUS at the bottom. The theme clue reads: "Two words that might be said when reading an arithmetic equation out loud." — a fitting puzzle for anyone who enjoys math wordplay!
🪜 Complete Word Ladder
| Position | Word | Clue |
|---|---|---|
| Top | TIMES | — |
| Rung 1 | TIDES | Changes in the sea surface caused by the moon's gravity |
| Rung 2 | SIDES | Take ___ (choose an opinion in a debate) |
| Rung 3 | SIXES | What you see two of when rolling "boxcars" with a pair of dice |
| Rung 4 | MIXES | Blends together, like all the ingredients for a cake |
| Rung 5 | MINES | Pits dug into the earth to extract ore |
| Bottom | MINUS | — |
🧠 Player Solution Walkthrough
Step 1: Understanding the Puzzle
The top word is TIMES and the bottom is MINUS. Both are arithmetic terms — "times" means multiplication, and "minus" means subtraction. The clue confirms this: reading an equation like "3 times 2 minus 1" out loud.
Step 2: Starting from the Middle
A good strategy is to work from words you can identify quickly. SIXES is a strong starting point — the clue about rolling "boxcars" (double sixes) with dice is a classic reference.
Step 3: Connecting to the Ends
From SIXES, think about single-letter changes:
- SIXES → SIDES (change X to D)
- SIDES → TIDES (change S to T at the start)
- TIDES → TIMES (change D to M)
Going the other direction:
- SIXES → MIXES (change S to M at the start)
- MIXES → MINES (change X to N)
- MINES → MINUS (change E to U)
Step 4: The Full Ladder
The complete chain: TIMES → TIDES → SIDES → SIXES → MIXES → MINES → MINUS
Each step changes exactly one letter, and the ladder flows naturally from multiplication to subtraction.
Step 5: Answer
TIMES MINUS — two words you'd say reading an equation like "5 times 3 minus 2." Clean, satisfying puzzle!
📚 Word Reference
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| TIMES | Multiplication; also refers to multiple occurrences |
| TIDES | The rise and fall of sea levels caused by gravitational forces |
| SIDES | Positions in a debate; also surfaces of an object |
| SIXES | The number 6 rolled on dice; "boxcars" = double sixes |
| MIXES | Combines ingredients together; blends |
| MINES | Excavation sites for extracting minerals; also explosive devices |
| MINUS | Subtraction; the arithmetic operation of taking away |
❓ FAQ
Q1: What is the answer to Crossclimb 747? A: The top and bottom words form "TIMES MINUS" — two words said when reading an arithmetic equation aloud.
Q2: How many rungs are in the word ladder? A: There are 5 middle rungs (TIDES, SIDES, SIXES, MIXES, MINES), connecting the top word TIMES to the bottom word MINUS.
Q3: What does the theme clue mean? A: When you read "3 × 2 − 1" out loud, you say "three times two minus one" — that's TIMES and MINUS.
Q4: Why is SIXES in the middle? A: SIXES is the pivot point — it connects upward to SIDES/TIDES/TIMES and downward to MIXES/MINES/MINUS through single-letter changes.
Q5: What's the trickiest clue? A: "Take ___ (choose an opinion in a debate)" for SIDES can trip people up — the phrase is "take sides," meaning to choose a position.
🎯 Strategy Tips
- Start from the middle — Middle rungs often have the most distinctive clues
- Look for single-letter changes — Each step changes exactly one letter
- Check positions carefully — The changing letter can be at the start, middle, or end
- Use the top/bottom clue — It confirms your answer and helps narrow down possibilities
- Work both directions — Sometimes it's easier to go from bottom to top