1 Getting started: sudoku
You probably use maths every day without realising, from working out how much change you might receive, to how long a journey might take to solving puzzles. We’re going to start by introducing you to some sudoku puzzles and get you to think about the different ways that you can approach a problem.
Activity 1 Do you do sudoku?
In 2005, a puzzle craze known as sudoku swept across the world, starting in newspapers. These puzzles are closely linked to a branch of mathematics known as graph theory. Sudoku involves putting numbers on a square grid, and its creators claimed that solving it needed just a logical mind – no mathematics required. Most sudoku puzzles are nine squares long and nine squares wide, a nine-by-nine (9×9) layout, but we are going to look at a smaller example.
Our large square is composed of four blocks, each of which has four smaller squares within. The blocks are framed by thicker lines. There are also four rows across and four columns down, so this setup is a four-by-four (4×4) puzzle. Draw this puzzle in your notebook (or print out a copy [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] ).
The idea is to arrange the numbers so that each block, row and column contains only one of the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4. For example, the bottom left-hand block already has a 4 in it, so you’ll need to put 1, 2 and 3 in the remaining cells in that block. Make sure that you do not end up with two numbers that are the same in any row or in any column, though. Try it now! Write your ideas directly on the copy of the diagram you drew. When you have either solved the puzzle or spent about ten minutes on it, read on. Below are some hints and tips if you feel you need more guidance.
Comment
If you have never seen these puzzles before, you may find this quite tricky. There are many different ways that you can tackle this problem. The first step is to try to sort out exactly what you are being asked to do and to make sure you understand the problem.
The next tactic to try is to make the problem simpler by breaking it down into steps concentrating on just one kind of number. You can choose the number that occurs most often and therefore is the number that you have most information about – in this case, 2.
Now, you need to find the number that makes most sense to fill in that does not violate any of the rules given. Remember: Each number 1, 2, 3 and 4 appears only once in each block, row and column. Keep the time limit of ten minutes in mind for the active part of this puzzle. You can spend twice this time if you wish, but don’t go beyond that.
Try a solution now. If you need more guidance, review the next comment.
Comment
In this case, there are two 2s on the grid already, so only two more are needed, one in each of the bottom blocks. There is already a 2 in the first column, so no more 2s can go in that column and so the only place for the 2 in the bottom left-hand block is in the square under the 4.
If you find this difficult to follow, draw a pencil line through the column and row that the given 2 is in to show that the 2s in the other blocks cannot be placed in this row or column. (Here’s a helpful tip: Write your numbers in pen and make the lines in pencil, so you can erase the pencil lines after each thought.)
Similarly, there is already a 2 in the third column, so no more 2s can go in the third column. So the 2 in the bottom right-hand block must go above the 3.
Now, let’s move on. You can see that the bottom row already has a 3 in it, so the 3 in the bottom left-hand block must go next to the 4.
Now look at the third row. Which number is missing?
As more numbers are added, the puzzle gets easier. If you have not finished the puzzle for yourself, try to do so now.
Answer
Your final grid should look like this:
Although there is only one correct answer to each sudoku puzzle, the approach described in the hint is not the only way to get started on this puzzle. If, for example, you focus on the number 4 in your first move, then you can reason that the block in the lower right-hand corner must have a 4 placed beside the given 3. This would lead to a different start as well as different steps to reason through, but it leads to the same answer.
As there is only one possible arrangement of the numbers in the answer, if you don’t reason your way through, reaching the correct answer is almost impossible.