Idea for a simple mobile game, Gauss Jordan Golf:

- Specify 18 (or a multiple thereof with minor number changes) equations of varying difficulty.

- Allow free choice of standard computer calculated operations, and a give-up button once you reach, say, 5 strokes.

- Keep a highscore.

Could be extended by viewing Gauss Jordan class of problems as a golf course and adding other courses.

The emphasis on a low stroke count as well as removing the obstacle of arithmetic makes the experience more like a game, just like Tao is suggesting. This assumes a low stroke count is a good metric, as well as something necessarily desirable - something that might not be true for all classes of elementary mechanical problems.