| Easy Puzzle #32 - One Possible Solution Approach… | |||||||||||
| NB: There is only one final solution to this Sudoku puzzle… | |||||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | |||||||||||
| 2 | AA | BB | CC | Reference to 3x3 Blocks AA, BB & CC | |||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||
| 4 | |||||||||||
| 5 | DD | EE | FF | Reference to 3x3 Blocks DD, EE & FF | |||||||
| 6 | |||||||||||
| 7 | |||||||||||
| 8 | GG | HH | II | Reference to 3x3 Blocks GG, HH & II | |||||||
| 9 | |||||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Easy Puzzle #32 - November 1, 2005 | |||||||
| 2 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 | Original puzzle as published © joe-ks.com | ||||||
| 3 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |||||
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 3 | |||||
| 5 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | |||||
| 8 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 8 | |||||||
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Step 1: Complete Block BB: need #s 5 & 9… | |||||||
| 2 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | #9 can't go in Cell E3 (cf #9 in Row 3 @ B3), so | |||||
| 3 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | #9 MUST go in Cell E2, & therefore #5 MUST go in Cell E3 | |||
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 3 | |||||
| 5 | 3 | Step 2: Complete Block HH: need #s 1 & 6… | |||||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | #1 can't go in Cell E7 (cf #1 in Row 7 @ B7), so | ||||
| 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | #1 MUST go in Cell E8, & therefore #6 MUST go in Cell E7 | |||
| 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Step 3: Complete Row 3: need #s 2 & 8… | |||||||
| 2 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | #8 can't go in Cell A3 (cf #8 in Column A @ A4), so | |||||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #8 MUST go in Cell I3, & therefore #2 MUST go in Cell A3 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 3 | |||||
| 5 | 3 | Step 4: Complete Row 7: need #s 5 & 7… | |||||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | #5 can't go in Cell A7 (cf #5 in Column A @ A6), so | ||||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | #5 MUST go in Cell I7, & therefore #7 MUST go in Cell A7 | |
| 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Step 5: Complete Column E: need #s 2 & 8… | |||||||
| 2 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | #8 can't go in Cell E4 (cf #8 in Row 4 @ A4), so | |||||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #8 MUST go in Cell E6, & therefore #2 MUST go in Cell E4 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||||
| 5 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Step 6: Complete Row 4: need #s 1 & 4… | |||||||
| 2 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | #4 can't go in Cell D4 (cf #4 in Column D @ D3), so | |||||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #4 MUST go in Cell F4, & therefore #1 MUST go in Cell D4 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 3 | Step 7: Complete Row 6: need #s 6 & 7… | |||||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | #7 can't go in Cell F6 (cf #7 in Column F @ F8), so | |
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | #7 MUST go in Cell D6, & therefore #6 MUST go in Cell F6 | |
| 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Step 8: Block GG needs #9: #9 MUST go in Cell A8 | ||||||
| 2 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | (#9 in Column B @ B3 excludes use of Cells B8 & B9, | |||||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #9 in Row 9 @ D9 further exlcudes use of Cells A9 & C9) | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | Step 9: #9 is in Columns G & H: #9 MUST go in Cell I1 | |
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | (#9 in Row 2 @ E2 excludes use of Cell I2) | |
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||||
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Step 10: #7 is in Column A& C: #7 MUST go in Cell B2 | ||||||
| 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | (#7 in Row 1 @ E1 exlcudes use of Cell B1) | ||||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | ||
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | Step 11: #8 is in Columns G & I: #8 MUST go in Cell H5... | |
| 5 | 3 | 8 | |||||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||||
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Step 12: Complete Column D: #5 MUST go in Cell D5... | ||||||
| 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | |||||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | Step 13: Complete Column F (& Block EE): | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | #9 MUST go in Cell F5... | |
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 8 | |||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||||
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Step 14: #5 is in Columns A & C: #5 MUST go in Cell B1... | |||||
| 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | ||||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | Step 15: #5 is now in Rows 1 & 3: #5 MUST go in Cell H2 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | (#5 in Column I @ I7 excludes use of Cell I2) | |
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 8 | |||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||||
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Step 16: #1 is in Rows 7 & 8: #1 MUST go in Cell I9 | |||||
| 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | (#1 in Column G @ G2 excludes use of Cell G9, & | |||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #1 in Column H @ H6 excludes use of Cell H8) | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 8 | Step 17: #6 is in Columns B & C: #6 MUST go in Cell A9... | ||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||||
| 9 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 1 | ||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Step 18: Column B needs #8: #8 MUST go in Cell B9 | |||||
| 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | (#8 in Row 5 @ H5 excludes use of Cell B5, & | |||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #8 in row 8 @ G8 excludes use of Cell B8) | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 8 | |||||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||||
| 9 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 1 | |||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Step 19: Block II needs #7: #7 MUST go in Cell G9 | |||||
| 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | (#7 in Row 8 @ F8 excludes use of Cells H8 & I8, & | |||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #7 in Column H @ H3 excludes use of Cell H9) | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | Step 20: #7 is now in Columns G & H: #7 MUST go in Cell I5 | ||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | Step 21: Complete Block FF: #6 MUST go in Cell G5… | |
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||||
| 9 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 1 | ||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | Step 22: Complete Row 9: need #s 2 & 3… | ||||
| 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | #3 can't go in Cell H9 (cf #3 in Column H @ H7), so | |||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #3 MUST go in Cell C9, & therefore #2 MUST go in Cell H9 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | Step 23: #2 is now in Columns H & I: #2 MUST go in Cell G1 | ||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||||
| 9 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | ||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 9 | Step 24: Complete Block CC: need #s 4 & 6… | |||
| 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | #6 can't go in Cell H1 (cf #6 in Row 1 @ D1), so | ||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #6 MUST go in Cell I2, & therefore #4 MUST go in Cell H1 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | Step 25: #4 is now in Columns G & H: #4 MUST go in Cell I8 | ||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | Step 26: Complete Block II: #6 MUST go in Cell H8... | |
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | |||
| 9 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | ||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 9 | Step 27: Complete Row 2: #4 MUST go in Cell A2... | |||
| 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | Step 28: #4 is now in Columns A & C: #4 MUST go in Cell B5 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | Step 29: Complete Block GG: #2 MUST go in Cell B8... | |||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 9 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | ||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 9 | Step 30: Complete Block AA: need #s 1 & 3… | |
| 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | #3 can't go in Cell C1 (cf #3 in Column C @ C9), so | |
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #3 MUST go in Cell A1, & therefore #1 MUST go in Cell C1 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | ||||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 9 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | ||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 9 | Step 31: Complete Block DD (& Puzzle): need #s 1 & 2… | |
| 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | #2 can't go in Cell A5 (cf #2 in Column A @ A3), so | |
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | #2 MUST go in Cell C5, & therefore #1 MUST go in Cell A5 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | ||
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 9 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | ||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |||
| 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 45 | Final Proof: |
| 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 45 | - All Rows add up to 45; |
| 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 45 | |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 45 | |
| 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 45 | |
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 45 | |
| 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 45 | |
| 8 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 45 | |
| 9 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 45 | |
| 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | - All Columns add up to 45; | ||
| 45 | 45 | 45 | - All 3x3 Blocks add up to 45… | ||||||||
| 45 | 45 | 45 | |||||||||
| 45 | 45 | 45 | |||||||||
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