2 solutions? Toronto Star 03/28/08

Post the puzzle or solving technique that's causing you trouble and someone will help

2 solutions? Toronto Star 03/28/08

Postby msgirl » Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:00 am

Seems to have 2 solutions for this puzzle.. first ever?.. can't find the wrong numbers down there.. sigh..~~..

9 6 3 | 5 2 1 | 4 7 8
5 7 2 | 8 9 4 | 1 6 3
1 8 4 | 3 6 7 | 5 2 9
6 2 9 | 1 5 3 | 8 4 7
4 1 7 | 8 9 6 | 3 5 2
8 3 5 | 7 4 2 | 6 9 1
2 9 8 | 4 3 5 | 7 1 6
3 5 1 | 6 7 9 | 2 8 4
7 4 6 | 2 1 8 | 9 3 5
msgirl
 
Posts: 2
Joined: 29 March 2008

Postby daj95376 » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:41 am

Your solution has two 8s in column 4 and two 9s in column 5. It's also not the puzzle listed online for 3/28/08 ... or any day close to it.

Unless one of these four cells was provided as a given/clue, then the puzzle has a deadly pattern ... and two solutions.

Code: Select all
 +-----------------------+
 | 9 6 3 | 5 2 1 | 4 7 8 |
 | 5 7 2 | . . 4 | 1 6 3 |
 | 1 8 4 | 3 6 7 | 5 2 9 |
 |-------+-------+-------|
 | 6 2 9 | 1 5 3 | 8 4 7 |
 | 4 1 7 | . . 6 | 3 5 2 |
 | 8 3 5 | 7 4 2 | 6 9 1 |
 |-------+-------+-------|
 | 2 9 8 | 4 3 5 | 7 1 6 |
 | 3 5 1 | 6 7 9 | 2 8 4 |
 | 7 4 6 | 2 1 8 | 9 3 5 |
 +-----------------------+
daj95376
2014 Supporter
 
Posts: 2624
Joined: 15 May 2006

No, No, No...

Postby msgirl » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:18 am

Thank you for your reply.. but I just realized 2 things ..
One - that it was a typo.. the 8 and 9 in column 4 were reversed..

9 8 6 .. this should make the puzzle complete.

but then.. it still doesn't make it 2 possible solutions because, as I copied down the numbers on a sheet of paper (which was easier for me to work on than on the newspaper), I realized that I accidentally placed one of the number in the wrong column which is my point #2 (after I carefully posted my 2nd LONG reply and placed the original puzzle up).

Thank you and I will be more careful next time copying down the numbers so I don't make the impossible possible. haha
msgirl
 
Posts: 2
Joined: 29 March 2008


Return to Help with puzzles and solving techniques