KenKen Strategies
r puzzles are square (this one happens to be 4 × 4, but they can be of
KenKen°
any size). Like Sudoku, the solution requires that an n × n puzzle contain the digits
1 through n exactly once in each row and column, but in any order. In addition,
the puzzle board is divided into possibly irregular cages, and these cages usually
have an indication of a goal and an operation. Sometimes there are 1 × 1 cages
that simply have a number to be inserted into the cage. If the operation is + or
×, then the sum (or product) of all the numbers in that cage have to yield the goal
number. If the operation is − (or ÷), then the cage must consist of two squares
(also called cells) and the difference (or quotient) of the two numbers must yield
the goal number. The numbers can be in any order in the cages. Solve the 4 × 4
KenKen puzzle below.
Websites of interest:
My website: http://www.math.uncc.edu/~hbreiter
Tom Davis has a great tutorial intro for anyone who want to learn more KenKen:
http://www.geometer.org/mathcircles/kenken.pdf
The official KenKen website: http://www.kenken.com/
The New York Times KenKen daily puzzle
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/crosswords/kenken.html
Thomas Snyder’s website: http://www.stanford.edu/~tsnyder/kenken.htm
1
KenKen Strategies
r puzzle below. Find the digits that
Consider the 4 × 4 multiplicative Kenken°
go in the three cells.
18×
2
KenKen Strategies
r puzzle below. Find the digit that goes in the cell
Consider the 4 × 4 Kenken°
marked ?.
9+
?
3
KenKen Strategies
r puzzle below. Find the digit that goes in the cell
Consider the 4 × 4 Kenken°
marked ?.
24×
?
4
KenKen Strategies
Solve the 4 × 4 KenKen puzzle below.
24×
4+
48×
5
KenKen Strategies
Consider the 4 × 4 multiplication puzzle below. Find the digit that goes in the
? cell.
192×
?
6
KenKen Strategies
Consider the 4 × 4 parity puzzle below. Find the digit that goes in the ? cell.
14+
2÷
6×
?
7
KenKen Strategies
Solve the 4 × 4 Kenken puzzle below. This puzzle is due to Thomas Snyder,
http : //www.stanford.edu/~snyder/kenken.htm
20+
20+
8
KenKen Strategies
r puzzle below.
Solve the 4 × 4 KenKen°
6×
3
10+
2÷
2−
3−
24×
9
KenKen Strategies
r template from the puzzle above and build a 4 × 4
Take the 4 × 4 KenKen°
Kenken that uses the digits in the set {2, 4, 6, 8}.
10
KenKen Strategies
r puzzle 7. Notice that the targets but not the operations
Solve the 4×4 KenKen°
are given.
8
4
2
6
1
6
6
11
KenKen Strategies
Solve the 4 × 4 KenKen puzzle below.
24×
48×
12