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Logic math puzzles

KenKen and KenDoku are known names used on a logic puzzle invented in 2004 by Japanese math teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto. The puzzle is a combination of logic and math, and helps training the brain.

Rules

This is the smallest grid in which a logical math puzzle can be solved—a 3×3 grid. The objective is to populate the grid with the numbers 1, 2, and 3, guided by the provided clues.

• Ensure that each row and column contains the numbers 1, 2, and 3 exactly once.
• Avoid repeating the same number within a row or column.
• The small numbers within bigger cells indicate the sum of the numbers in that cell.
• A cell can contain the same number twice as long as it complies with the previously mentioned rules.

How to play – easy puzzle

Step 1: This is how the grid looks with the provided clues. Four cells contain clues, and in two of them, the numbers are given.

Step 2: The clues without a + sign behind them tell you what the numbers are. Fill in the numbers that are given in the clues.

Step 3: By looking at column one, we know we need the number 3, and since there is already a number 3 in the first row, there is only one possibility: row 2.

Step 4: Since we have a number 3 in two of the rows, we can place the number 3 in the last row as well. This row only has one possibility: column 2.

Step 5: We can use the clue 4+ in the cell to find the other number. Since we have the number 3, we need to add 1 to get to 4+.

Step 6: In columns one and two, we can fill in the missing numbers of 1 and 2 to complete the columns. In rows two and three, we can complete the rows with 2 and 1. The puzzle is solved.

How to play – harder puzzle

This puzzle starts without any specified cells. You need to rely on logic to identify potential options.

Step 1: This is the appearance of the grid with the provided clues. There are four cells containing clues, and no initial numbers are given.

Step 2: Use the clues to determine the potential placement of each number in its respective spot.

Step 3: By looking at the clues and knowing we need to place the numbers 1-2-3 in each column, we can see that in the first column, the number 2 only has one available spot.

Step 4: Place the number 2 in the spot. Now, check if this helps us further. It doesn’t help us more.

Step 5: If we look at row one, we can see that the number 1 only has one place.

Step 6: Place the number 1 in the first column.

Step 7: We can also place the number 3 in the last spot in column one. The remaining clues don’t give us any more information. Now, we have to guess and try.

Step 8: Alternative one. If the number 2 is in row one, column two, it will give us the following solutions for numbers 1 and 3.

Step 9: If the number 2 is in row one, column two, it will give us the following solutions for column three. The puzzle is solved.

Step 10: Let’s check the other alternative. If the number 3 is in row one, column two, it will give us the following solutions for numbers one and two.

Step 9: If the number 3 is in row one, column two, it will give us the following solutions for column three. The puzzle is solved. This puzzle had two potential solutions.

My logic math puzzles on Etsy:

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