Math geeks — is there a form of mathematics on which Sudoku is based?

[Oeditpus Rex]

I've just recently gotten into Sudoku and I do reasonably well with it, which makes me wonder if I'm not as bad at math as I've thought. But then I think, well, it's really just simple logic, but then again I wonder if maybe I'm not just downplaying it and I really am using skills I didn't know I had.

The gist of the question is, "If you can do Sudoku, you can do X. Solve for X."

[TOhioLiberal]

1. I think...

Sudoku is more about logic than math. Math implies solving equations to me. :shrug:

[AllegroRondo]

2. It really is a logic problem

the numbers are just place holders. you could make a Sudoku puzzle using letters or symbols, and it would make no difference.

Dont downplay your logic skills, its a great thing to have.

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. I know, but

I wanted better math skillz. :cry:

[applegrove]

4. I was disappointed when I realized it was just plain logic. I wanted to

used math skills too.

[AllegroRondo]

5. have you tried Kakuro?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakuro

its similar, and also uses lots of logic skills. But the ability to add and subtract quickly in your head is also important. Great way to build math skills.

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. I've seen it at the WaPo game site

but I haven't checked it out.

I have the basic math skillz. In fact, one of my dream jobs is to be a sports statistician; I can crunch those kinda numbers all day. It's the more advanced stuff I'm lacking in — like when they start throwin' in letters and stuff like ^ and > and other Greek crap.

[AllegroRondo]

11. You should be in St Louis this weekend

its the SABR convention. Tons of baseball historians and statistics nuts.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/A854B29B979DB7FE862573240013CFC3?OpenDocument

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. Blah

I think SABRmetricians are nuts.

Historians, yeah; I count myself among 'em. But people who feel the need to come up with "park-adjusted" stats and stuff make me :eyes:.

[GumboYaYa]

6. I have always thought that math and logic are two sides of the

same coin. Math is really just a way to describe degrees of relation.

[petronius]

7. X = "avoid work indefinitely"

Online sudoku has enabled me to put in many a full day of maximal unproductiveness...

:)

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. I print 'em

so I can do 'em while lazing on the bed. :)

I do only one a day, though — same with crossword puzzles.

[LynneSin]

10. You want math challenges try Kakuro

I had Suduko - it's too easy for me.

But Kakuro (aka Cross Sums) is challenging!