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  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Twin Chute-swapping Sudoku

Age 14 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star
  • Problem
  • Student Solutions
By Henry Kwok

Twin A

twin A

Twin B

Twin B


Rules of Twin Chute-Swapping Sudokus


This Sudoku consists of a pair of linked standard Sudoku puzzles each with some starting digits.
As usual, the object of this Sudoku is to fill in the whole of each 9x9 grid with digits 1 through 9 so that each row, each column and each block contain all the digits 1 through 9.

Twin B is related to twin A in the following ways:
Given that twin A is the original puzzle, twin B is obtained by swapping a horizontal/vertical chute or band of blocks with another horizontal/vertical chute or band of blocks. By such transformation, twin A and twin B are essentially the same or equivalent Sudoku puzzle.

For example, fig 2 is created from fig 1 by shifting the first chute of 3 blocks sideways to the right and the second chute of 3 blocks sideways to the left.
fig 1fig 2


Similarly an equivalent puzzle (fig 3) can be created from fig 1 by shifting the first chute of 3 blocks downwards and the second chute of 3 blocks upwards.
fig 3

The three puzzles are equivalent to one another. Equivalent puzzles can also be created from fig 2 and fig 3 by similar transformations.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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