How to solve, by Tim Salazar
Play "Math
Squares" by Dave Gross
Also See: Math Squares Solver
| Mark off the chart method: good when you have lots of multiplies (x) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Here is the puzzle I will be going through, step by set to a solution. The letters a-i are the missing numbers. |
Instructions Fill in the missing numbers. Use the numbers 1 through 9 to complete the equations. Each number is used only once.
Chart above will help you solve the puzzle |
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Look for a row or column that
has the least number of possible solutions. C1 - a*d*g = 27 is a good place to start since it is all multiply and has a low product. first factor
27. - ( 1*3*3*3 = 27 ) a,d, & g must be these factors. |
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Since C3 is all multiply and has the next lowest product, lets try that one. C3 - c*f*i = 112 Factor > 112 = 2*2*2*2*7. remember 1 is always a factor, but one
has already been used in C1. 2*(2*2*2)*7=112 > 2*8*7=112 |
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The next logical step seems to
be C2, but we don't need to do it because from our chart we already know what they must
be. Let look a R1. There's some information in R1. a - is now down to being ether 1 or 3, so we can
just substitute 1 & 3 for "a" with all possible "b" values (4,5,6)
to see which ones work. |
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Try R3 Try all possible answers for g & h to see if they work. Your done. All other letters are left with only one possible solution. |
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Solution![]() |
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Lets try another one where the mark off method don't work well for.
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The Formula method - good when you have lots of +'s & -'s |
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| Since we set all formulas to =0, any 2 can be set to =
each other. What we are trying to do is to make a formula that only has 1 or 2 variables in it. Start by looking for any 2 formulas, that when set =
to each other, one variable cancels out. When eliminating variables don't use the same formula twice, because
it will undo your previously eliminated variable. |
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