Puzzle Genius

Calcudoku

Calcudoku, which is sometimes also called Mathdoku and KenKen, is a mathematical and logic puzzle based on Sudoku. It’s played on various grid sizes, usually from 4x4 to 9x9, though it can go even larger.

The size of the grid dictates the numbers you’ll use to fill out the puzzle. For instance, in a 4x4 Calcudoku you'll use the numbers 1 to 4, and in a 6x6 you'll use the numbers 1 to 6.

Here’s an example of a small Calcudoku puzzle:

An example calcudoku puzzle grid.

Rules of Calcudoku

The objective of Calcudoku is to fill the grid with numbers according to the following rules.

  • Each row and column must contain the numbers from 1 to the size of the grid, once and only once (the same as Sudoku). For example, in a 4x4 Calcudoku, each row and each column should contain the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 with no repetitions.
  • Each outlined block (sometimes called a cage) must satisfy the mathematical operation given by its clue. For example, if a two-cell block has the clue 3+, then the numbers in those cells must add up to 3. If a three-cell block has the clue 6x, the numbers in those cells, when multiplied together, should give a product of 6.

Here’s what the earlier example puzzle looks like when completed:

The solution to the example Calcudoku puzzle.

Because Calcudoku shares similar rules to Sudoku, we highly recommend becoming familiar with solving Sudoku before moving on to this puzzle. As you begin to solve cells in a Calcudoku grid, you can use many regular Sudoku techniques to help you solve the rest of the puzzle. Indeed, in anything beyond the most basic puzzles, you’ll need to use Sudoku techniques. You can find our complete three-part Sudoku tutorial here.

Further Rules of Calcudoku

Clue numbers in a Calcudoku puzzle are usually a number followed by a mathematical operator (e.g., ‘12x’ or ‘3-’), in which case the specified calculation must be performed on the numbers that are entered in the block. If a clue number is shown without an operator in anything other than a single cell, you’ll have to work out the calculation as well as the numbers, or use other Sudoku techniques to fill those cells without without worrying about the calculation part.

The puzzles we publish use a variety of mathematical operators. Our kids puzzles usually only include additions, but as the difficulty level increases, so do the possible operators. 

  • Addition (+): The numbers in the cells of the block must sum up to the given number.
  • Subtraction (-): One number subtracted from the other must equal the given number. The order matters - you always subtract the smaller number from the larger one.
  • Multiplication (x): The numbers in the cells of the block must be multiplied together to arrive at the given number.
  • Division (÷): Like subtraction, the order is important. The larger number is divided smaller one.

A well-designed Calcudoku puzzle (such as those we publish) has only one unique solution, and it can be reached through logical deduction. There is never any need to guess.

Solving Calcudoku Puzzles

As we mentioned above, many regular Sudoku techniques can be used to help solve Calcudoku. But you have some extra clues, so it’s worth using them.

  • Start with the obvious. Single cell clues can be immediately filled in if there are any. Two-cell blocks have limited possibilities for candidates. For example, in a 4x4 grid, a cage labeled 3+ could only contain a 1 and a 2; you just have to work out in which order to place them.
  • Use a process of elimination. If you've determined certain numbers for some cells, use that information to deduce the numbers for neighbouring cells, especially within the same row or column.
  • Remember you cannot repeat numbers in a row or column, so unless a cage spans multiple rows and columns, it cannot contain the same number twice. This limits the candidate list.
  • In harder puzzles where the mathematical operator is not always included, look for very large numbers. For example, if you see 360 in a block, unless you are playing on a monster size grid (far larger than we publish!) the only valid way to achieve the result would be through multiplication. 
  • In harder puzzles it may be necessary to write in small candidate numbers, like in Sudoku. These can be determined both through normal Sudoku techniques, and by working out all possible factor combinations for a multiplication block, and so on.
  • Remember to check for consequences every time you place a number. Often, working out the contents of one cell can have knock-on effects that ripple out through the puzzle, making it easy to solve many other cells.
  • Pro-Tip: You can save time and brain power in calculating candidate numbers for blocks by using our free Calculdoku calculator on this website.

Worked Example

We’ll work through an easy level puzzle to demonstrate common techniques for solving Calcudoku. As with most puzzles, there isn’t a single path from start to finish, so this is not a definitive way to reach a solution, just one possible way.

Calcudoku Worked Example 1

This is the puzzle we are going to solve. It’s an easy level puzzle – partially determined by its size (5x5), but mostly by the simplicity of the calculations, the small size of the blocks, and the number of labelled single cells. That’s where we will begin.


Calcudoku Worked Example 2

I said this was an easy puzzle! We’ve already filled in five single cells without having to think about it.

Where next? Let’s consider the highlighted block, a two-cell 2÷. We have to divide two numbers to get the answer 2. As this is a 5x5 puzzle, the largest number we can put in is a 5. Therefore the only possible solution to this block is a 4 and a 2 (because 4÷2=2). We have to decide which number goes in which cell, but that’s easy because we’ve already got a 4 and a 2 in the block below. As normal Sudoku rules apply, we cannot have the same number twice in the same column or row, so there’s only one possible way to fill in this block.


Calcudoku Worked Example 3

For most of the blocks in this puzzle it’s easy to figure out the numbers we need to fill them, but not necessarily obvious which way around they go within a block. For example, the 5+ block (green), has to contain a 3 and a 2 (it can’t contain a 1 and 4 because the column already has a 4). But which goes in the top cell and which in the bottom? We don’t know yet. We could write the candidates in as little numbers in both cells, and indeed in a harder level puzzle we’d do that. But for an easy puzzle like this, there’s no need. We can just solve other blocks first.

So we’ll look at the yellow 6x block instead. There’s only one possible solution to that. It has to be 2x3, and as we already have a 2 on the grid, we know the 2 has to go in the top cell of this block.


Calcudoku Worked Example 4

This 2- block only has a single possible solution. It can’t be 5-3 because we cannot put either a 5 or a 3 in the second cell (they’re both already in that column). So it has to be 4-2, and to stay within the rules there’s only one way around we can place those digits.


Calcudoku Worked Example 5

Now we have a no-brainer – a single cell remaining within a column. It has to be a 1, because that’s the only number missing from the column. And filling that in is going to tell us what needs to go with it to complete the 3x block.


Calcudoku Worked Example 6

That gives us another easy win cell in the 6+ block (it’s the only missing number in the row), which again tells us how to complete that block.


Calcudoku Worked Example 7

Now we know how to fill in the 5+ block we looked at earlier. We’re missing a 2 and 3 in the column, so it’s 2+3. The 2 in the second column forces the order in which we fill the block.


Calcudoku Worked Example 8

This has to be 5÷1, and the 1 in the first column forces the placement order.


Calcudoku Worked Example 9

The 2- must be 5-3 (the only valid option). Which way around do they go? Nothing currently on the board tells us. But we can take into account the 6+ (green) block, which has to be 5+1 (it can’t be 3+3 because that would put two 3s in the column, and it can’t be 4+2 because we’ve already got them in that column). Whichever way around we put those numbers in the green block, we’re going to have a 5 in that column, so the 5 in the yellow block must go in the second cell.


Calcudoku Worked Example 10

We can fill in the 6+ block because we already know it’s 5+1, and the order is forced by the presence of the 5 in the top row.


Calcudoku Worked Example 11

That just leaves this 3÷, which is a no-brainer anyway because it’s made of two single missing cells from the top two rows. We don’t even have to think about the simple calculation (which obviously must be 3÷1)!


Calcudoku Worked Example 12

All done. Ready to try some Calcudoku yourself? Read on to find out where you can do just that…


Try Calcudoku Yourself

Ready to have a go yourself? We’ve put together a taster of four puzzles for you, including the example above. You can download and print the PDF below. Solutions are included, but no cheating!

Download Our Calcudoku Taster

Where to Play

Want to try out some Calcudoku? We have you covered. We sometimes include them in our free Puzzle Weekly magazine – you should totally sign up for that if you haven’t already, as it puts 28 brand new puzzles in your inbox every week.

You can also find four levels of Calcudoku puzzles in our Jumbo Adult Puzzle Book – which happens to include more than 500 puzzles of 20 different varieties.

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