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The Excel Sudoku Solver: Newspaper Puzzle Working Solution

This document provides instructions for solving a Sudoku puzzle using an Excel solver. The solver uses four algorithms - blue, red, green, and purple - to systematically fill in the puzzle grid. It can get stuck if there are multiple possible values for a cell, in which case the user must choose a value to continue solving.

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172 views3 pages

The Excel Sudoku Solver: Newspaper Puzzle Working Solution

This document provides instructions for solving a Sudoku puzzle using an Excel solver. The solver uses four algorithms - blue, red, green, and purple - to systematically fill in the puzzle grid. It can get stuck if there are multiple possible values for a cell, in which case the user must choose a value to continue solving.

Uploaded by

dvagh4150
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as XLS, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Excel Sudoku Solver

Newspaper Puzzle Working Solution

3 1 6 3 1 6 ###

2 5 8 2 5 8 ###

5 5 ###

9 3 8 6 9 3 8 6 ###

4 7 1 3 4 7 1 3 ###

6 3 4 1 6 3 4 1 ###

### 8 8 ###

1 7 5 1 7 5 ###

5 2 7 5 2 7 ###
###

Set up grid

Enter the grid here, hit "Set up grid" then hit "Solve" Solve

If there is a trifurcation - three or more possible choices for a key cell - the program will halt, and write the possible values for the undecided cells in the Solution grid. Select a cell showing just 3 values.
Choose a value and enter it into the "Working" grid and hit Solve again. If you chose wrongly, the program will fail to fill all Solution cells - so rerun the puzzle, this time with an alternate choice.

You may find there are several trifurcations, so it may be necessary to continue the above process.

There are 4 algorithms used by this program, which perform as described below. To disable and run the program without a partiuclar algorithm uncheck the tick box.
The "Green" algorithm will only be called if the "Blue" algorithm is also called.
The "Purple" algorithm will only be called if the "Green", "Blue" and "Red" algorithms are also called. Use?

Blue numbers are "forced moves" - these occur where there is only one possible number in a cell. ### ✘

Red numbers are found by screening out rows and columns and 3 by 3 squares and seeing if a single possibility is left for a given number. ### ✘

Green numbers are found by checking to see if a row or single column contains a cell with a possible entry which appears in no other cell in that row or column. ### ✘

Purple numbers arise when the program starts exploring bifurcations - eliminating tham if they result in a contradiction. ### ✘
1 9 - - 3 1 - 6 - - -
2 9 2 - - - - - 5 - 8
3 9 - - - - 5 - - - -
4 9 - - 9 - 3 - - 8 6
5 9 - 4 - 7 - 1 - 3 -
6 9 6 3 - - 4 - 1 - -
7 9 - - - - 8 - - - -
8 9 1 - 7 - - - - - 5
9 9 - - - 5 - 2 7 - -
OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK

OK OK OK
OK OK OK
OK OK OK
ok

ok

ok

ok

ok

ok

ok

ok

ok

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