Tentaizu (puzzle)
Encyclopedia
Tentaizu is a logic and algebra puzzle. It falls in the category of board puzzles with algebra of binary variables
. The hidden objects in this game are stars. The player solves the puzzle by locating a number of stars on a board with adjacent cells. The solved puzzle is a star map, which names the puzzle in Japanese as "Tentaizu".
with the exception that Tentaizu always has a unique solution that is reachable analytically.
An example is shown in Figure 1. Seven stars must be located. The cells with numbers are called clue cells. The stars are hidden in non-clue cells. Each cell can hide only one star. Two cells are neighbor to each other if they share a side or a corner. A clue cell with number n indicates n stars hidden in its neighbor cells. More details including the solution methods can be found in board puzzles with algebra of binary variables
. The solution can be obtained by reducing the problem into the equations with binary variables.
Tentaizu is useful to develop math sense on algebra, uniqueness, finding solution on a constrained finite set, and reasoning.
Board puzzles with algebra of binary variables
Board puzzles with algebra of binary variables ask players to locate the hidden objects based on a set of clue cells and their neighbors marked as variables . A variable with value of 1 corresponds to a cell with an object...
. The hidden objects in this game are stars. The player solves the puzzle by locating a number of stars on a board with adjacent cells. The solved puzzle is a star map, which names the puzzle in Japanese as "Tentaizu".
About the puzzle
Tentaizu appeared in Southwest Airlines' magazine Spirit in 2008–2009. It was published in Android (operating system) market in 2010. It is similar to Microsoft's MinesweeperMinesweeper (Windows)
Windows Minesweeper is a variant of the computer game Minesweeper, created by Curt Johnson, originally for OS/2, and ported to Microsoft Windows by Robert Donner, both Microsoft employees at the time...
with the exception that Tentaizu always has a unique solution that is reachable analytically.
An example is shown in Figure 1. Seven stars must be located. The cells with numbers are called clue cells. The stars are hidden in non-clue cells. Each cell can hide only one star. Two cells are neighbor to each other if they share a side or a corner. A clue cell with number n indicates n stars hidden in its neighbor cells. More details including the solution methods can be found in board puzzles with algebra of binary variables
Board puzzles with algebra of binary variables
Board puzzles with algebra of binary variables ask players to locate the hidden objects based on a set of clue cells and their neighbors marked as variables . A variable with value of 1 corresponds to a cell with an object...
. The solution can be obtained by reducing the problem into the equations with binary variables.
Tentaizu is useful to develop math sense on algebra, uniqueness, finding solution on a constrained finite set, and reasoning.