bonanova Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 KenKen is like sudoku. The numbers 1 - n fill the columns and rows of an n x n grid. Numbers are further constrained, to obey certain mathematical operations. Two numbers inside a box marked 3- would have to differ by 3. e.g., 5 and 8 in some order. Three numbers in a box marked 15x would have a product of 15. 1, 3 and 5 in some order. Here is an 8x8 KenKen puzzle where the boxes are just marked with a number, like 3 or 15. The mathematical operation is not specified. You have to figure that out as part of the puzzle. One hint is that a boxes that contains more than 2 numbers must be either add or multiply. Boxes that are marked 1 must be subtract: the other operators would require identical numbers or zero. Each box should be solved as completely as possible before solving rows or columns. A box with 1 number contains the marked number. A box with 2 numbers marked 15 could be either 3x5 or 7+8. Nothing else. A box with 2 numbers marked 12 could be 2x6, 3x4, 4+8 or 5+7. Only the number 1 would be excluded. A box with 3 numbers marked 12 permits all eight numbers. And so forth. This KenKen puzzle is one that I have not been able to solve. A gold star to anyone who solves it. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Barcallica Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Thank you for posting, it was a really good exercise. Even more so because I was able to do it without any trial and error. After solving this, it somehow reminded me of your signature (not that I did anything great). "The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 wolfgang Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 I didn`t play Kenken before, so may I ask about it... 1- if it is like sudoku, does it mean that each row or column should have the numbers from 1 to 8? 2- in 1st row, there is a single box having number 5, and in 5th row a single box having number 3...shall we put them as such? 3- in case of 3 boxes, is it possible to subtract three numbers?..e.g. 8-5-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 bonanova Posted August 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 Yes Yes No (3 or more implies addition or multiplication) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 bonanova Posted September 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Very nice. I could not make any substantial progress without guessing, but even so I could not sort out the options in rows 3 and 4. I never found the 5-2-5 answer in the first two columns. Two stars for no trial and error. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Barcallica Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Very nice. I could not make any substantial progress without guessing, but even so I could not sort out the options in rows 3 and 4. I never found the 5-2-5 answer in the first two columns. Two stars for no trial and error. Thanks, never earned a gold star before. System keeps track of it? Finding out a2, a3 (chessboard) was my first move. Surprisingly there were no multiplication and division. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 bonanova Posted September 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Very nice. I could not make any substantial progress without guessing, but even so I could not sort out the options in rows 3 and 4. I never found the 5-2-5 answer in the first two columns. Two stars for no trial and error. Thanks, never earned a gold star before. System keeps track of it? Finding out a2, a3 (chessboard) was my first move. Surprisingly there were no multiplication and division. box. The star is just my own thing. Nothing to do with the site. I have unabashedly called it the "coveted bonanova gold star" with tongue in cheek, of course. Yes, it's surprising that everything is + and -; also surprising that the solution flowed from the 7-1 box. I'll give it another try. Again, great solve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
bonanova
KenKen is like sudoku. The numbers 1 - n fill the columns and rows of an n x n grid.
Numbers are further constrained, to obey certain mathematical operations.
Two numbers inside a box marked 3- would have to differ by 3. e.g., 5 and 8 in some order.
Three numbers in a box marked 15x would have a product of 15. 1, 3 and 5 in some order.
Here is an 8x8 KenKen puzzle where the boxes are just marked with a number, like 3 or 15.
The mathematical operation is not specified. You have to figure that out as part of the puzzle.
One hint is that a boxes that contains more than 2 numbers must be either add or multiply.
Boxes that are marked 1 must be subtract: the other operators would require identical numbers or zero.
Each box should be solved as completely as possible before solving rows or columns.
A box with 1 number contains the marked number.
A box with 2 numbers marked 15 could be either 3x5 or 7+8. Nothing else.
A box with 2 numbers marked 12 could be 2x6, 3x4, 4+8 or 5+7. Only the number 1 would be excluded.
A box with 3 numbers marked 12 permits all eight numbers.
And so forth.
This KenKen puzzle is one that I have not been able to solve.
A gold star to anyone who solves it.
Good luck
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