A Product of Determination
(Published on 17. November 2025, 07:28 by PersonWhoExists50306)
Fill each cell with digits 1-9 such that there are no repeats within a row, column, box, or cage.
Digits in purple cages must multiply to the indicated product. For colorblind solvers, these cages have been denoted with a (Π)
Digits in orange cages form matrices. The determinant of each matrix is given. Denoted with a (det)
Adjacent digits along the salmon-colored line are coprime. That is, their greatest common divisor is 1.
Feel free to use a calculator. Or Wolfram Alpha.
Click on the puzzle to get to the solver.
Solution code: The bottom left box's digits, in normal reading order.
Comments
on 22. November 2025, 16:06 by damasosos92
Very interesting idea.
on 18. November 2025, 22:35 by dzamie
Ha, I *do* still remember how to do determinants! This was so much fun. I'll hazard a guess that you found that the values in box 7 have determinant 0, and then decided to make a puzzle around it?
Man, I'd nearly forgotten how much fun I have with post-algebra math.
reply from PersonWhoExists50306:
Close. I wanted to try to teach myself to program custom constraints in sudokumaker, and the idea for doing a big matrix with a given determinant was floating in my head, so I tried to implement it.
I was barely able to cobble something together due to my lack of JavaScript knowledge/understanding of how the custom constraint system works.
The design process for this consisted of making a few of the cages, having the automatic solver generate a solution, then making more cages until only the one solution was valid.
Glad you enjoyed!
on 18. November 2025, 15:49 by CitrusGremlin
Linear Algebra? In *my* sudoku?? It's more fun than you think. Incredible puzzle, you should do more.
reply from PersonWhoExists50306:
Thank you! No promises that I'll get inspiration again, though
on 17. November 2025, 12:47 by flutchman
Very nice, but I figure this puzzle has somewhat of a niche audience :)
reply from PersonWhoExists50306:
Haha, yeah, I figured. Glad you enjoyed.
on 17. November 2025, 07:53 by Silentdodo
The idea of determination is so great! Remind me of my algebra homework...
Reply from PersonWhoExists50306:
Thanks! I made and tested this instead of sleeping. It is almost 2 AM and I have class tomorrow. I should probably sleep now.
