Sudoku is puzzle game in which you have to place the numbers in a logical way. The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 boxes contains the digits from 1 to 9 only one time each. The puzzle setter provides a grid which is partially completed.
Although the 9×9 grid with 3×3 regions is the most common type, there are variants around. Differentiated from the original one, smaller ones such as 4×4 grid with 2×2 regions and 6×6 grid with 2×3 regions are available.
Combined with another puzzle game Kakuro, a new variant named Cross Sums Sudoku is produced. In this variant, players must come up with solutions according to the clues. The clues can either be given in terms of cross sums or by cryptic alphametics in which each letter represents a single digit from 0 to 9. For example, NUMBER+NUMBER=KAKURO as a unique solution 186925+186925=373850.
Another popular variant is named Hypersudoku. In this variant, the layout is no different from the original one. However, the interior areas are redefined meaning that players must apply a slightly different way to fill all the overlapping squares. This overlap gives the player more information to logically reduce the possibilities in the remaining squares. The approach to playing is still similar to Sudoku but with possibly more emphasis on scanning the squares and overlap rather than columns and rows.
From Sudoku to its variants, we get fun and tend to be more logical thanks to it. By the way, there’s also a kind of variant which combines Rubik’s cube with Sudoku to produce a derivative called Sudoku Cube which HuangXin and ZengYingzi may be interested in.
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Your blog is always full of knowledge and I like it very much. In your last blog you talked something about the roots of English words, which inspired and enlightened me a lot. I got a totally different view of the words. You know English has such an enormous number of words and I felt frustrated in memorising them. This time you introduced something about a mathematical puzzle game. Although I have never played it, it aroused my interest. Such games are challenging but they can also benefit our mathematical intelligence. I am sorry to say that I cannot understand the game completely via your blog. So could you tell me more about it face to face and provide me with an outlet for my curiosity?
ReplyDeleteI do not think I have much interest in mathematics, but I like sudoku very much. Because when I play sudoku, my mind is fully occupied by the digits. that is an wonderful experience exactly. Among the given digits of a sudoku, there must be some inner connection for you to find them out. The solution of a sudoku is unique. When you involved in your deep thought of the solution, you may be reminded of something detective. I love the felling, which is also a reason why I like detective stories.
ReplyDeleteWow! I am not aware of the different types of number puzzles available. As for me, I prefer solving word puzzles.
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