Making Mathematical Puzzles
0Day 2 | 7:00 PM–8:00 PM Social Activity
"Making Mathematical Puzzles"
Presented by:
Eliza Gallagher and Neil Calkin, Clemson University, Clemson SC USA
https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/simiode/expo/2025
Abstract: Known as FullDeck and Missing a Few Cards in the variant sudoku community, we have constructed hundreds of mathematical puzzles that have been solved hundreds of thousands of times around the world, and we have taught scores of others to construct such puzzles. Variant sudoku uses the underlying structure and outcome goal of classic sudoku but relies on mathematical constraints and relationships to drive forward the logic of the solve, instead of relying solely on given digits. A classic sudoku requires at least 17 given digits to ensure a unique solution; variant sudoku often has no given digits and relies on very different types of logic to complete the puzzle. In this session, we demonstrate how we construct variant sudoku puzzles and use careful placement of mathematical clues to "push information around the grid." Participants will be actively involved in choosing mathematical constraints and placing clues to create a puzzle with a unique solution. We will also engage participants in testing the newly constructed puzzle to ensure that the intended solve path can be found by humans and proved to be unique by the series of logical deductions in the solve path. Participants will leave with the tools to begin constructing their own puzzles and links to connect with the international variant sudoku community.