KAKURO #1 - BEGINNER LEVEL

KAKURO #1 - BEGINNER LEVEL

Kakuro Rules: Just like in a crossword puzzle, the answers go across and down.  The clue (sum) for the across answer is on the top side of the triangle, and the clue (sum) for the down answer is on the bottom side of the triangle.  Use the digits 1 thru 9 to add together to get the given clue (sum).  No digit can repeat itself within the same answer.  (Example: if the clue is 4, then the only possible answer is 1 & 3.  CANNOT be 2 & 2 because no digit can repeat in the same answer.)

There is now a HELP page located as a link in the left column of the blog.  Look there for Kakuro Unique Answers.

SOLUTION

GATTAI 5 KILLER SUDOKU #1 - INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

Kakuro is a pencil puzzle that looks kind of like a crossword grid but it is filled with number sums instead of words.  The clue to each line is a number so that the numbers in the answer are added to create it.  (example: clue line = 3 with two spaces for the answer, therefore the answer are the digits 2 & 1 in some order.  1+2=3)

I told you about Gattai 5 Sudoku puzzles in a previous post.  Well this puzzle is a Gattai 5 Killer Sudoku, meaning that it not only contains 5 interlinked sudoku grids but it also has elements of Kakuro in it.  The best way to solve these puzzles are to work on the large sums and multipliers first.  Break the multiples down into their prime number multiples to help you find the answers.
           
Rules: Fill in the grids with the digits 1-9 sudoku style.  The digits in each color filled area should be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided to equal the number in the clue.  Each clue has an operation in it.  For division and subtraction start with the highest number first (example: a region that has the clue 2- could be solved with 6 - 3 - 1).  Digits cannot be repeated within the colored areas.

GATTAI 5 KILLER SUDOKU #1 - INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

HINT: The best place to start this particular puzzle is in the bottom right square.  Only using the digits 1-9 as in any other Sudoku puzzle, you know that 35 = 5 x 7.  To find the 3 digits that multiply to get 144 break down the 144 into it's prime factors. 
144 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3
Possibility 1:  144 = (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) = 4 x 4 x 9
Possibility 2:  144 = (2 x 2 x 2) x (2 x 3) x 3 = 8 x 6 x 3
Possibility 3:  144 = 2 x (2 x 2 x 2) x (3 x 3) = 2 x 8 x 9

You know that the answer cannot be the Possibility 1 because there cannot be two 4's in a sudoku square and there cannot be repeated numbers in a colored region.

32 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 broken down into two digits that multiply together only has one possibility
32 = (2 x 2 x 2) x (2 x 2) = 8 x 4

Therefore after all of this you know that Possibility 2 and Possibility 3 both contain an 8 and because there cannot be two 8's in a sudoku 3x3 square the 8 in the 32x region must be out of this 3x3 sudoku square.  So then the 8 is above the 4 in the 32x region so that it can be out of this 3x3 sudoku square.

SOLUTION

This Girl's Dream

I was going to apply for a position with David's Bridal as a bridal consultant.  I started to get excited when there was a sign on their door for hiring but the posting was not online because I knew that not a lot of people would know about the position.  My sister and I had been talking about it and how much fun it would be to help blushing brides find their perfect dress.  So I called the manager and asked about the position... BUMMER... it's only a 15 - 20 hour job as a service representative.  That's less than part-time and it's doing stuff like running the cash register and checking brides in for their appointments.  Granted there might be a better chance of moving up to be a consultant once I am already an employee, but I am not sure that 15-20 hours at just over minimum wage is worth the opportunity.  I guess I'll be keeping my eye out. 

I have been watching a lot of "Say Yes to The Dress" and "Four Weddings" and all those other little wedding TV shows since I have been home from work.  So then I got to thinking... my hair was burning.  This girl's dream is to have her own bridal boutique!!!  Wouldn't that be awesome!  I could hire my mom for alterations and pay her TONS of money!  I could hire my sister and my friends to be consultants and pay them TONS of money!  I could advertise for my dad's band for the bride's reception music and make them TONS of money!  I could do hair, makeup and nails in my boutique and make TONS of money!  I could advertise for my mom and her BFF to cater the weddings (which was their main source of income for many years) and make them TONS of money!  OOooohhh...... what a dream.... 

GATTAI 5 SUDOKU #1 - EXPERT LEVEL

Normally I am not a fan of Sudoku.  I find regular Sudoku to be ordinary and unimaginative.  But the fact that Sudoku had become so well known and loved by everyone in the last decade, it had people looking for new and more exciting variants for Sudoku puzzles.  Variants on the puzzle came out such as a 16x16 square instead of 9x9 grid, puzzles containing letters instead of numbers, the combination of Sudoku and Kakuro (adding the numbers to get a specific total), 3D sudoku grids, grids that have connecting edges, and grids that have underlying odd shaped areas to fill with 1-9 rather than the common 3x3 square.  This is one of those variants...

Gattai 5 Sudoku (otherwise known as Samurai Sudoku) uses 5 sudoku grids put together for one puzzle.  While most Gattai 5 Sudoku puzzles have the grids only connected at the corners like so

this one has the grids connected with whole sides of each 9x9 grid.  I have shaded in the areas that are the easiest to start from to help you out a little, but do not be discouraged because even with this small helping hint the puzzle is really difficult.  Don't forget that the 5th 9x9 grid is in the center of the puzzle.

GATTAI 5 SUDOKU #1 - EXPERT LEVEL

SOLUTION



TAKEGAKI #1 - BEGINNER LEVEL

Takegaki, better known as "Slitherlink" is a great logic puzzle.  At first I did not like these puzzles but once I got the hang of some of the consecutive patterns between certain numbers (like 3's beside one another) I really enjoyed solving them.  It helped me a lot in the beginning to make a squiggly line on the segments that I KNEW would not be a part of the loop.

Doing the extremely large takegaki puzzle on my previous post inspired me to see if I could create my own takegaki puzzle.  The one I created is of course much smaller than the one that I posted earlier, but it will be a good puzzle for beginners...

The easiest way to do it is to save the picture to your computer and either print it or work it on "paint".

TAKEGAKI RULES:  The objective is to connect horizontally and vertically adjacent dots so that the lines form a simple loop with no loose ends. The loop cannot cross itself.  In addition, the number inside a square represents how many of its four sides are segments in the loop.  Squares without numbers in them can still have segment sides.

TAKEGAKI #1 - BEGINNER LEVEL

SOLUTION



Different Feeling Than Yesterday

Yesterday was not only the last day of 2010, but it was also the last day of working at the bank for me.  Although I was sad to leave the people that I have worked with for four and a half years, I am so thankful to be out from under the reign of the depression, stress, and unhappiness that the job brought me.  I got so tired of the emotional roller coaster ride.  Bottom line, everyone there is beginning to hate their jobs and they are all looking elsewhere for opportunities, I just happened to be the first one to call it quits. 

Good news for all of you though... I can now share some of the crazy stories from the bank.  Good news to those who are in my everyday life... I think that leaving the job will make me a nicer person!  I regret to say that I have not been the most delightful person to be around for probably the last three years or so.  And a big "Thank You" for putting up with me during that time. 

Hopefully the new year will not only bring a change of jobs for me, but also a new outlook on life.  There has been a lot of drama during the last year and I wish that 2011 will prove itself to be a better one.  I am excited to see what will happen, and pray that everything works out.