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Feb 14 DB

 
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Earl



Joined: 30 May 2007
Posts: 677
Location: Victoria, KS

PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:33 pm    Post subject: Feb 14 DB Reply with quote

This DB Valentine for Sudoku lovers is a skyscraper in <8> (C4,9).

Earl

Code:

+-------+-------+-------+
| . 9 . | 3 . . | 7 2 . |
| . . 8 | . 2 . | 9 . . |
| . . 4 | . . . | . . 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| . . . | 9 . . | 1 7 . |
| 9 . 2 | . . . | 3 . 4 |
| . 8 1 | . . 3 | . . . |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 1 . . | . . . | 6 . . |
| . . 7 | . 3 . | 4 . . |
| . 2 6 | . . 7 | . 9 . |
+-------+-------+-------+

Play this puzzle online at the Daily Sudoku site
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sudocraz



Joined: 28 Apr 2008
Posts: 53

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 7:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know how to do skyscrapers. Is there any other solution to this. We are stuck. Sad
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daj95376



Joined: 23 Aug 2008
Posts: 3854

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

sudocraz wrote:
I don't know how to do skyscrapers. Is there any other solution to this. We are stuck. Sad

This puzzle really calls out for a Skyscraper/Empty Rectangle/2-String Kite to solve it. Here's the PM and candidate grid for <8>.

Code:
 after basics and before an X-Wing on <3>
 *--------------------------------------------------------------------*
 | 6      9      5      | 3      48     48     | 7      2      1      |
 | 37     137    8      | 157    2      156    | 9      4      36     |
 | 2      137    4      | 17     9      16     | 8      36     5      |
 |----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
 | 45     46     3      | 9      4568   2      | 1      7      68     |
 | 9      67     2      | 158    15678  158    | 3      568    4      |
 | 457    8      1      | 45     4567   3      | 2      56     9      |
 |----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
 | 1      34     9      | 2      458    458    | 6      38     7      |
 | 8      5      7      | 6      3      9      | 4      1      2      |
 | 34     2      6      | 148    148    7      | 5      9      38     |
 *--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Code:
 candidate grid for <8>
 +-----------------------------------+
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  8  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  8  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  .  |  .  .  8  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  8  8  |  .  8  .  |
 |  .  8  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  8  .  |
 |  8  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  8  .  |  .  .  8  |
 +-----------------------------------+

Would you like to see examples of the three techniques I listed?

(No Ted, the Kraken X-Wing is not up for discussion Laughing )
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sudocraz



Joined: 28 Apr 2008
Posts: 53

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Daj

At the moment the Skyscraper is beyond my understanding. Sad I would like to see an example of an Empty Rectangle though.


Regards

Sheila
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daj95376



Joined: 23 Aug 2008
Posts: 3854

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sudocraz wrote:
At the moment the Skyscraper is beyond my understanding. Sad I would like to see an example of an Empty Rectangle though.

I love a challenge.

Skyscraper:

[c4] has strong link (*) and [c9] has strong link (@). [r9] contains a cell from each strong link. Now, let's alternately consider [r4c9] true/false for <8>. (The same logic would work for [r5c4])

Code:
 [r4c9]= 8                             => [r4c5],[r5c8]<>8 (are among the eliminations)
 [r4c9]<>8 [r9c9]=8 [r9c4]<>8 [r5c4]=8 => [r4c5],[r5c8]<>8 (are among the eliminations)
 +-----------------------------------+
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  8  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  8  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  . -8  .  |  .  . @8  |
 |  .  .  .  | *8  8  8  |  . -8  .  |
 |  .  8  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  8  .  |
 |  8  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  | *8  8  .  |  .  . @8  | <-- common row
 +-----------------------------------+
                ^                 ^
                |-----------------|    <-- two columns w/strong link

Any cells that see the two non-aligned cells -- [r4c9] & [r5c4] -- can have <8> eliminated.

Now, let's turn the pattern upside down and have you find the eliminations for the second Skyscraper in this candidate grid.

Code:
 +-----------------------------------+
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  8  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  8  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  .  |  .  .  8  |
 |  .  .  .  | *8  8  8  |  . @8  .  | <-- common row
 |  .  8  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  . @8  .  |
 |  8  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  | *8  8  .  |  .  .  8  |
 +-----------------------------------+

Final Note: This logic (obviously) works if two rows have strong links and a column contains a cell from each strong link.
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daj95376



Joined: 23 Aug 2008
Posts: 3854

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

2-String Kite:

[c4] has strong link (*) and [r4] has strong link (@). [b5] contains a cell from each strong link. Now, let's alternately consider [r4c9] true/false for <8>. (The same logic would work for [r9c4])

Code:
 [r4c9]= 8                             => [r9c9]<>8 (is among the eliminations)
 [r4c9]<>8 [r4c5]=8 [r5c4]<>8 [r9c4]=8 => [r9c9]<>8 (is among the eliminations)
 +-----------------------------------+
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  8  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  8  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  . @8  .  |  .  . @8  | <- strong link in row
 |  .  .  .  | *8  8  8  |  .  8  .  |
 |  .  8  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------| [b5] common
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  8  .  |
 |  8  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  | *8  8  .  |  .  . -8  |
 +-----------------------------------+
                ^
                |                      <- strong link in column

The one cell outside of [b5] -- [r9c9] -- that sees the two cells not in [b5] -- [r4c9] & [r9c4] -- can have <8> eliminated.

Now, let's have you find the elimination for a different 2-String Kite in this candidate grid.

Code:
 +-----------------------------------+
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  8  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  8  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------| [b6] is common
 |  .  .  .  |  . @8  .  |  .  . @8  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  8  8  |  . *8  .  |
 |  .  8  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  . *8  .  |
 |  8  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  8  .  |  .  .  8  |
 +-----------------------------------+
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daj95376



Joined: 23 Aug 2008
Posts: 3854

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unfortunately, you asked for an example of the hardest technique to explain of the three. First, I need to know if you're comfortable with the subject of grouped strong links. If so, then send me a private message (pm) and I'll provide two examples grids like I did for each technique above.

Empty Rectangle (technique): currently on hold!
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keith



Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Posts: 3355
Location: near Detroit, Michigan, USA

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

daj95376 wrote:
Unfortunately, you asked for an example of the hardest technique to explain of the three. First, I need to know if you're comfortable with the subject of grouped strong links. If so, then send me a private message (pm) and I'll provide two examples grids like I did for each technique above.

Empty Rectangle (technique): currently on hold!


How about this?
Code:
 candidate grid for <8>
 +-----------------------------------+
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  8  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  8  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  .  |  .  .  8  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  8  8  |  .  8  .  |
 |  .  8  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  8  .  |
 |  8  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  8  .  |  .  .  8  |
 +-----------------------------------+
Replacing some of the <8> candidates with other symbols:
Code:
 8 could occur in any of the cells marked @ and #.
 +-----------------------------------+
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  8  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  8  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  a  .  |  .  .  A  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  8  8  |  .  8  .  |
 |  .  8  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  *  8  |  @  @  #  |
 |  8  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  @  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  8  .  |  .  .  @  |
 +-----------------------------------+

In B9, the candidates lie only in one row and one column. This row and column intersect at #. Also, there is a strong link aA, and a candidate *. Note that #* lines up with aA.

Now, if a is true, <8>, * is false.

If a is false, A is true, the <8> in B9 must lie in R7, and * is false.

Either way, * is false.

The way I look for them is:

Look at each box. Do any candidates lie only in one row and one column? If so, identify the # cell. Now, external to the box, is there a strong link in the same candidate, where one end lines up with #? If so, is there a cell * where an elimination can be made?

I hope this helps.

Keith
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keith



Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Posts: 3355
Location: near Detroit, Michigan, USA

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I notice another ER that makes the same elimination:
Code:
 +-----------------------------------+
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  8  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  8  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  8  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  8  .  |  .  .  8  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  #  8  |  .  A  .  |
 |  .  8  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |-----------+-----------+-----------|
 |  .  .  .  |  .  *  8  |  .  a  .  |
 |  8  .  .  |  .  .  .  |  .  .  .  |
 |  .  .  .  |  8  8  .  |  .  .  8  |
 +-----------------------------------+


Keith
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Marty R.



Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 5770
Location: Rochester, NY, USA

PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's an actual example. Note in box 1 the 8s intersect at r1c1 (this is called the ERI--Empty Rectangle Intersection). The ERI sees part of a strong link on 8 in row 9. The 8 in r1c5 sees both the ERI and the second half of the row 9 strong link, so that 8 gets eliminated.

Code:
+-------------+------------------+-----------------+
| 7   58  123 | 4   12358  1358  | 6    9    2358  |
| 568 9   23  | 7   568    58    | 1    23   4     |
| 568 4   123 | 9   123568 1358  | 2578 237  23578 |
+-------------+------------------+-----------------+
| 4   157 8   | 15  9      2     | 3    167  67    |
| 3   2   6   | 18  4      178   | 78   5    9     |
| 15  157 9   | 6   1358   13578 | 4    127  278   |
+-------------+------------------+-----------------+
| 12  13  4   | 125 157    6     | 9    8    2357  |
| 9   138 5   | 128 178    4     | 27   2367 2367  |
| 28  6   7   | 3   58     9     | 25   4    1     |
+-------------+------------------+-----------------+
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sudocraz



Joined: 28 Apr 2008
Posts: 53

PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 2:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Daj, Marty, Keith, Earl,

Thank you for all of your help. Very Happy
I will print all of this out and try to understand it. Confused Right now my repertoire, after basics, consists of: X-wing, UR 1, XY-Wing, XYZ Wing and Bug Removal 1.

Thanks again.

Sheila
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Marty R.



Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 5770
Location: Rochester, NY, USA

PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sheila,

Not that you asked my advice, but after the ER, if you're interested, I'd ask about UR 2 & 4, pincer transport and W- and M-Wings. Sounds like a lot, but no need to rush, you can digest them slowly, one at a time.
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sudocraz



Joined: 28 Apr 2008
Posts: 53

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Marty,

You are probably right. I think that we will start examining the UR 2, 3 and 4. I have material on them that I haven't looked at yet. It is lots of fun learning new things. Very Happy


Thanks

Sheila
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