The Secret Squared
(Eingestellt am 29. Dezember 2024, 20:25 Uhr von BenTen)
If you don't know "the secret" then you'll have to work extra!
It's been a while since posting my last puzzle; it's sometimes difficult to find the time, but I'm hoping this 2025-themed puzzle is an enjoyable one.
Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think of it.
Rules:
- Normal sudoku rules: Place the digits 1-9 once each in every row, column, and 3x3 box.
- Multipliers: Each 3x3 box contains a circled digit, which is equal to the multiplier of that box. The multiplier applies to all cells of the box it lies within.
- The value of each cell is equal to the digit placed in the cell multiplied by the multiplier of its box.
- Cage: The given cage total shows the sum of the values of all cells within the cage.
- Region Sum Lines: Box borders divide the blue lines into segments whose values have the same sum. Different lines may have different sums.
CTC app link
Link to CTC YouTube solve
Lösungscode: Row 9.
Kommentare
am 6. Januar 2025, 19:21 Uhr von BenTen
Added link to CtC YouTube solve.
am 31. Dezember 2024, 02:45 Uhr von TheNineElements
Solve Time: 30:16
I rated this 3/5 difficulty
Very cool puzzle and cool ruleset! Very enjoyable solve! Saw this posted by CTC and gave it a go before watching Simon's solve.
Upon reading the rules and seeing the massive cage value, I put together the clues and figured out the nature of the circles quite quickly. This wasn't immediately useful in my solve, but after maybe 5-10 minutes of break-in I was able to use the secret to progress into the midgame. I felt the break-in was around 3/5 difficulty for me.
The midgame was also enjoyable and had a lot of cool steps. Apart from the 2025 sum clue, I really enjoyed figuring out the nature of the RSLs using various arithmetic/algebraic tricks and prime factors. Very nice idea with a lot of interesting logic that arises. Midgame was around 2-3/5 difficulty for me.
Overall the puzzle felt around high 2* to low 3* difficulty, and I leaned towards 3/5 difficulty just because of the mathematical steps/values you are required to understand in order to solve this efficiently. Those values feel more like an intermediate/advanced technique that would be quite complex/difficult for a 1-2* difficulty puzzle.
Knowing the secret as well as the fundamental theorem of arithmetic should help greatly if anyone gets stuck :)
Great puzzle! Perhaps you should have waited until Jan 1 to post the puzzle, but I very much enjoyed this puzzle here before the start of the new year
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After watching Simon's solve, he seemed to diverge from using the circles during the break-in a bit quicker than I did. I was able to disambiguate the R2 circles before moving on to the rest of the solve, which I think made the solve a bit quicker for me. I think his solve path was a bit more intuitive as I had to use some contradiction logic to disbiguate them, but, either way, great setting!I
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Thank you for your feedback TNE. Simon's solve path was indeed the one I had intended but I appreciate there may be alternative methods.
I know it was published a little early but the I couldn't wait any longer to post it! I was very happy to see it featured on CtC and all the positive comments it received.
am 31. Dezember 2024, 01:13 Uhr von novato
Very nice puzzle, some really lovely logic
am 31. Dezember 2024, 01:13 Uhr von novato
Very nice puzzle, some really lovely logic
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Thank you novato
am 30. Dezember 2024, 16:54 Uhr von wuc
Cool idea. 3* for me. Factoring knowledge helped me finally. Great fun thx.
am 30. Dezember 2024, 12:18 Uhr von Franjo
Thank you very much for creating and sharing this lovely puzzle. I wish you a happy (20+25)^2.
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Thank you Franjo and happy (20+25)^2 2u2!
am 30. Dezember 2024, 00:48 Uhr von mihel111
Posted at the right moment, I see.
I was waiting for something like this to celebrate 2025.
Perfect.
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Hehe ;) happy new year!
am 29. Dezember 2024, 22:51 Uhr von wuc
Cool idea. 3* for me. Factoring knowledge helped me finally. Great fun thx.
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Thank you wuc.
