Unlike puzzle tests, in Sudoku tests we don't allow any overrides.
No points for for missing a digit OR swapping 2 digits OR typing same digits twice (all of these happen pretty regularly)

The only override we allow in Sudoku tests is row/column swaps (i.e. entering Row A digits in Row B and vice versa) OR if a given clue is typed wrongly.

I thought the puzzles were all beautiful. I particularly loved "Draw A Jigsaw".

After performing quite poorly on the test, I've since gone through and solved them all. I eventually got through all of them quite smoothly, with the exception of the toroidal sudoku, so I'm wondering if I missed an easier break-in there. Here's how I could solve it:

1. Note several immediate pairs that need to be separated (4-4-4, 9-9, 8-8).
2a. If the column separator is index 0 (before column 1), the second 4-4 forces the row separator to index 0 (so classical sudoku). But then the bottom right square can't have a 5.
2b. Column separator index 1 forces row separator index 1 by the pairs from step 1.
2c. Column separator index 2 forces row separator index 1 or 2 to separator the 9-9 pair. In row 7, the 8 can go in two places, forming two potential 8-8 pairs, none of which are separater by column index 2 or row index 1.

We're left with options (1,1) and (2,2).

3. In row four, the 1 must go in column 1 with either option.

4?. Looking at row 7, columns 7 and 8 can only contain 19 and 18, respectively. Here, I somehow deduced that these must be 9, 1, forcing option (1,1). I can't figure out this step anymore at the moment.


Cheers
Robert

fair enough

During these 23 minutes, I managed to break the "Draw a Jigsaw" puzzle twice - it wasn't that difficult, but placing the same digit twice in the same area surely doesn't help. I wonder how many chances I get to beat Thomas on a Sudoku contest...

Got it... so easy with the clue... thanks for not sharing the instructions.

Edited by harmeet 2011-05-30 4:54 PM

Could anyone please show the break-in for the Draw A Jigsaw?

RJH0723: Let me know if this is not detailed enough.

1. Consider the 4 in the last column, and the 2 in the second to last column. Note that the 2's area can't escape to the bottom left, and deduce that there's not enough space for the 2 and 4 to be in separate areas.
2. Consider the 2 in the first row, and note that its area can't reach row four, so it needs to connect to one of the given 1s.

Thanks. I got it from there. I just needed a place to start.

Thanks for a really nice test, Gotroch. Nonconsecutive with all evens was cool, Incomplete Sums and Which Digit is Missing both had great presentation and were good puzzles in themselves, Draw a Jigsaw was really nice, etc. Definitely a hard but fun and satisfying set of puzzles!

Thanks for the puzzles. They were really nice. If I hadn't literally broken every puzzle I eventually solved, I would have gotten a lot more done. Not my best performance, but enjoyed it none the less.

I really enjoyed the non-consecutive in particular - a very satisfying "aha" moment when I realised how it worked. These moments are always best, I find, when they take more than a few seconds to arrive but less than a few minutes, and this puzzle had it just right. :)