Countdown numbers solver: shortest route

Type up to six numbers and a target. The solver finds the fewest steps that reach it, writes out the routes, and says so plainly when the target cannot be hit exactly.

What it does and does not do

The solver searches every order of every operation on every subset of your numbers, so a result of "fewest steps: 4" means no route with 3 or fewer steps exists. It lists up to three shortest routes (some may differ only in the order of independent steps). If the target cannot be reached exactly, it shows the closest value that can be made and how many steps that takes; it never pretends. It uses the standard Countdown rules: positive whole numbers only, each number used at most once, and the result of a step can be used again.

Want to play instead of solve? Parsum gives you a new six-number board every day with the shortest route as par.