Difference/Ratio Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman
(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
The threes come in three varieties in this three-matic Difference/Ratio Pairs Sudoku.
or solve online (using SudokuPad)
Theme: The Number Thou Shalt Count
Author/Opus: This is the 158th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.
Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). If a white circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers must have a difference equal to the given number. If a black circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers must have a ratio equal to the given number. Pairs of cells without circles can have any relationship.
GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 14:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Wanted Wamweracaudia.
Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:45, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.
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R4C2 is a fill-in: 9
R2C4, R2C5 and R2C6 are 1/9, 3 and 1/9
That leaves 2/6 for R1C4 and R1C5.
R3C4 can only be 4 or 6 because of the 1/9 in R2C4. But 6 is not an option, because of the 2-6 pair already in the box. So it’s a 4, making R2C4 a 1.
This makes R4C4 and R5C4 a 2-6 pair, because the former sees 1 in the column, and 3 and 9 in the row.
But now you have 3 cells in row 4 that are all part of a 2-6 pair.
Am I missing something here?
R4C2 may not be a fill-in as you say at the start.
**But now you have 3 cells in column 4 that are all part of a 2-6 pair.
I switched column with row in that sentence. (which happens more than I would like to admit)
There are two numbers that share a 3:1 ratio with 3.
Whoops, that was meant to be a reply to Cijs above. There’s something weird with this comment form.
Okay yeah the “reply” function definitely isn’t working consistently! Also I meant Gijs. Whoops.
Thanks for the rectification. I’m not sure what I was on yesterday, but that supposed R4C2 fill-in was bananas.
So this eventually turned out to be a really nice puzzle with a great flow to it.