Modular Lightning

Title: Modular Lightning

Rating: 2/5

In the first of three puzzles of this type, modular arithmetic plays an important rule.  Here, all the sums are given mod 9.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must add to the indicated sum (mod 9).   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the sum for adjacent regions of each of those colors.
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule. 

Missouri Mule

Title: Missouri Mule

Rating: 2/5

The titular drink is destined to provide a kick.  Created by Harry Truman, it's a combination of bourbon, Applejack, lemon juice, Campari, and Cointreau. 


The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must add to the indicated sum (denoted by +) or multiply to the indicated product (denoted by *).   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the sum/product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that repetition doesn't violate the first rule.

Painting Eggs

Title: Painting Eggs

Rating: 2/5

Just in time for Easter.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule.  

Crossword

Title: Crossword

Rating: 2/5

A novelty puzzle as we head into the final stretch of puzzles I've created.  In this puzzle the rules look simpler, but the empty spaces are important too.


The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once (including the black squares).
• Sums of digits are given for each horizontal or vertical region.  

Ripples II

Title: Ripples II

Rating: 2/5

A sequel to a puzzle that was released back in August last year.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule.  

Bull Shot

Title: Bull Shot

Rating: 2/5

This mix of vodka, beef bouillon, and dashes of lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper might be just what I need to shovel during the impending snow of doom.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must add to the indicated sum (denoted by +) or multiply to the indicated product (denoted by *).   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the sum/product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that repetition doesn't violate the first rule.

Walk the Line

Title: Walk the Line

Rating: 2/5

With all due respect to Johnny Cash.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule.  

Machine

Title: Machine

Rating: 2/5

As the final post this year, I'm closing out 2015 with the last pentomino puzzle I've made (the previous three being Five By, Amends, and Tilting).  May your new year be filled with humanity.

The official rules:

• The digits 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 appear in the above puzzle.
• Each shaded region contains exactly one of each of the digits 1 through 5.
• No row or column can contain more than two appearances of any of the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in both of the associated adjacent regions.

Mirage

Title: Mirage

Rating: 2/5

Amid the desert of your Wednesday, this puzzle is a cool drink of water.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule.  

What Do You Mean?

Title: What Do You Mean?

Rating: 2/5

Not just a question you might ask during your Thanksgiving holidays, but appropriate for the little tweak in the last rule.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule. 
• The center square is the geometric mean of the four squares immediately diagonal to it. 

Turn, Turn, Turn

Title: Turn, Turn, Turn

Rating: 2/5

The rotational symmetry of these puzzles lends them, as has been seen before, a certain windmill-ian aspect.  So too here.  But more than that, the colors were chosen to represent each of the seasons.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule. 

Day-Glo

Title: Day-Glo

Rating: 2/5

With fall colors on some distant planet, this puzzle should brighten your day.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must add to the indicated sum.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the sum for adjacent regions of each of those colors.
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule. 

Turn of the Screw

Title: Turn of the Screw

Rating: 2/5

The title of this product puzzle is belies its difficulty.  Instead it hints at the more challenging nature of some puzzles in the weeks ahead.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule. 

Tilting

Title: Tilting

Rating: 2/5

Here is the third of four pentomino puzzles, after Five By and Amends.  The title comes from the fact that while the design is rotationally symmetric, the given clues don't quite satisfy that maxim.

The official rules:

• The digits 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 appear in the above puzzle.
• Each shaded region contains exactly one of each of the digits 1 through 5.
• No row or column can contain more than two appearances of any of the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in both of the associated adjacent regions.

Synergy

Title: Synergy

Rating: 2/5

As my fall semester begins, I'm hoping for a little bit of synergy in my activity (despite this).

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule. 

Bloom

Title: Bloom

Rating: 2/5

It's been a little while since a sum puzzle has been semi-relaxing.  Let this one bring forth thoughts of a cool spring during the dog days of summer.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must add to the indicated sum.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the sum for adjacent regions of each of those colors.
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule.

Color Blur

Title: Color Blur

Rating: 2/5

One day my older daughter saw me trying (in vain) to come up with a name for this puzzle.  I had some version of writer's block--the kind least likely to matter, I suppose.  I decided to let her name this puzzle, and "Color Blur" is what she came up with.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule. 

Lighten Up

Title: Lighten Up

Rating: 2/5

Given the desire to have a puzzle where the colors steadily faded as one travels inward, there are lots of un-twisty regions.  Hence the easier rating.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule. 

Nothing

Title: Nothing

Rating: 2/5

In the last of the tweaks, this week's puzzle is a mix puzzle with 0 thru 8 instead of 1 thru 9.  And yes, this really is a drink: it's made with Malibu rum, Midori, pineapple juice, and it's served on ice.

The official rules:

• The digits 0 through 8 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must add to the indicated sum (denoted by +) or multiply to the indicated product (denoted by *).   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the sum/product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that repetition doesn't violate the first rule.

Nada

Title: Nada

Rating: 2/5

Continuing the theme from last week's puzzle, here's a product puzzle with one tweak: 0 thru 8 instead of 1 thru 9.

The official rules:

• The digits 0 through 8 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule.