Kendoku (aka Square Wisdom, CanCan, KenKen) calculator!
Some of you may have already started playing “the new Sudoku” puzzles that appear in The Times (UK) under the name KenKen which translates to “Square Wisdom“.
It’s an interesting concept, quite similar to Killer Sudoku, but with all four basic arithmetic operations involved. Another change is that repeats within a cage are allowed if possible.
To help out those of you who are starting to like this game, I have prepared a tool that shows you which combinations of numbers can go into a certain cage. All you need to do is plugin the numbers, click “Calculate” and voila!, you get the list of possible options.
Here is the calculator:
UPDATE: I’ve started posting these puzzles on a daily basis. You can find them in the Square Wisdom (CanCan, Kendoku) category.
Killer Sudoku fans
May 15th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I was just wondering how I can pencil in numbers on the online puzzles.
Thanks
May 24th, 2008 at 9:52 am
I have tried the ones in the Times - with the + - x or / given to you they are quite easy - hope yours are going to be harder, DJ.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Your calculator for listing the possible combinations is a great help for checking purposes. Would it be possible to modify it to include a maximum number of repeats (2,3 etc.)?
The list for 23+ in a cage of 6 cells, for example, is very long.
Gwyn
October 16th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Sorry about my previous note about the calculator. I must be blind or at least unable to read.
October 16th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
No Gwyn, you’re neither blind nor unable to read, it’s just that I amended the calculator about a minute ago, after I saw your question and thought it was a good idea.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Thanks for the calculator. I used it to teach myself what the cages could possibly contain when there’s a division operator and a higher number like 9! LOL I couldn’t get that one on my own!
December 6th, 2008 at 4:01 am
I need a tutorial on how to use maximum repeats. It seems like it can mean one of two things:
a) The maximum number of times a digit can repeat in the cage. If the cage only overlaps two rows or two columns, the maximum would be two occurrences, but if it twists and turns and crosses more rows or columns, the digit could repeat several times ex) 6*5*2*2*2*2*1…
or is it
b) The maximum number of different digits that can show up twice (or more) in the cage. I’ve seen this happen (4*4*3*3*1) but I have no idea how I’d calculate that it could occur.
Thanks in advance for your help! I love these puzzles now, and I love the calculator!!!
December 7th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Amy, maximum number of repeats is not the max repeats of one number, it is the total repeats of all numbers.
So in: 6*5*2*2*2*2*1 there are 3 repeats. (three 2s)
In 4*4*3*3*1 there are 2 repeats. (one 4 and one 3)
In 3*3*3*2*2*1 there are 3 repeats (two 3s and one 2).
But that’s looking at it backwards. What you should look at is the shape of a cage, figure out how many numbers could be equal and enter that as the max number of repeats.
December 8th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Hi Calculator enthusiasts,
I wonder whether you learn Kenken, or even improve your “math”, when you use a calculator? Like bicycling with training wheels, sooner or later you need to drop them if you are going to get the enjoyment from the tool.
Question. I am working on a method to list numerical candidates that, like some of the better methods for Sudoku, positions the candidates, so they visually stand out. I.e., you don’t have to “read” the numbers.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
fred
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Calculator Suggestion:
Lately I’ve been using “cut, copy & paste” in the results window.
By copying the results before doing another calculation then pasting the previous results below it and repeating for each new calculation I create a list of all relevant information, often labelling each group with a Header to help keep track as the list grows longer.
Example:
_________8+
6+1+1
5+2+1
4+3+1
4+2+2
3+3+2
_________420*
7*6*5*2
7*5*4*3
I can then go back through the list and delete any entries ruled out or groups solved.
If the calculator would generate a Header and not erase each result (instead add it to the top of a growing list) along with a radio button to erase the last result (mistaken entry) and another to clear the whole window (start over/new puzzle) I would think it a simple yet powerful tweak to an already useful tool.
Another idea would be a “no-op” button that returns all 4 (if possible) results at once.
Thanks for a great tool, I use it all the time.
Good Luck,
Tx3
February 12th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Tx3, thank you for your suggestions and sorry for responding a little late. I couldn’t agree more with you and so I’ve updated the calculator to provide the extra features you suggested.
February 13th, 2009 at 7:36 am
I love Tx3’s suggestion and the new calculator. I may try the puzzles with the limited operators now, even!
Thanks for this update, djape!
May 4th, 2009 at 7:55 am
This is a wonderful utility. I wish I could put it in my palm centro. Any chance you will publish the programing.