Introduction to Treasure Maps Python
(Published on 30. December 2020, 10:08 by Eggr)
Technically the 4th puzzle with this rule set, but this is an easier puzzle to help people learn the rules.
More difficult versions can be found
here and
here.
And a 5-Star Challenge:
here
Rules:
All cells with the same shape are clues on a "treasure map", where the value of each clue denotes its distance from a hidden cell.
The Triangle map points to the head of a snake. The Circle map points the tail of a snake.
Place a snake into the grid connecting the head to the tail.
Diagonal touching is allowed
Each clue
also indicates how many of the 8 surrounding cells are part of the snake
Clues can not be on the snake.
Treasure Map Example:
link
Puzzle: link
Penpa+ Link to solve online
Disambiguation:
A snake is a 1-cell wide path of orthogonality connected cells, starting at the 'head' and leading to the 'tail'.
The snake never touches itself orthogonally, but
may touch diagonally.
Hints
If you want some hints on how to start and solve this puzzle highlight the white text below:
[HINT]
1) Start by trying to locate the locations of the snake's head and tail.
2) Clues can range from 1-7 (Inclusive):
A clue can't be 0 spaces away from the snake end without being on it, which isn't allowed. Each clue only has 8 surrounding cells, so it can never touch more than 8 cells. And if a clue was touching 8 snake cells it would be surrounded by a closed loop, which isn't allowed.
3) Highlight all possible cells for each map that won't immediately break one of its clues:
It's useful to note how counting the distance from a cell results in a concentric diamond pattern (illustrated here counting out from the orange cell). I find it easiest to count out diagonally (along the dotted line) 2,4,6,8 and visualize how the string of 8's (purple) are all unreachable, as well as anything further away (pink).
4) Consider the possible snake paths:
As the clues get narrowed down certain cells must be included on the snake in order to achieve the clue totals, while other cells will become impassible. Keep in mind that any two snake cells that are orthogonally adjacent must be consecutive on the snake. Also, the only 'end points" are the two revealed by the maps, so some progress can be made just knowing that the snake must keep going to avoid a dead end.
Iterative application of the ideas above should get you at least this far after the break-in At which point additional deductions can be made in several directions:
Where does the snake go / not go? (Add green and grey cells)
Where is the head of the snake? (Remove purple cells that are impossible)
What are the final clue values? (Remove candidates that are impossible)
Good Luck[/HINT]
Created by: Greg Rodgers Powers
Solution code: Number of Snake cells in each row. (Example: 13310)
Last changed on on 31. December 2020, 03:00
Solved by CJK, moss, Dandelo, jessica6, NikolaZ, Jesper, cdwg2000, H1324851344, MartinR, Dina, SudokuExplorer, TimE, Zzzyxas, Zoidzerg, Jds2, sandmoppe, Alca05, uminded, fkil, BenceJoful, polar, purpl, Lenne, admirableostrich, Milchreis, Alex, Sterces48, Farkov, CHalb, Rollo, Mark Sweep, Banana, hurrdurr, Uhu, ManuH, Drawoon, Simon919, Xilentor, Gotroch
Comments
on 31. December 2020, 17:44 by SudokuExplorer
Lovely introductory puzzle :-)
on 31. December 2020, 16:01 by Dina
Really fun and easy! Thanks :-D
on 31. December 2020, 02:50 by Eggr
Added extensive white text hints explaining the break in, and ideas for solving
on 30. December 2020, 14:57 by cdwg2000
Very nice,and Very easy!
You can guide beginners into this difficult problem, and add a few pictures appropriately to introduce how to think about the problem, how to enter, it may be better:-)
Last changed on 30. December 2020, 12:33on 30. December 2020, 12:27 by Eggr
Added an additional clue to ensure uniqueness.
Thanks to CJK for finding the alternate solution.