Greater Than Sudoku Puzzles

About Greater Than Sudoku Puzzles

Greater Than Sudoku, also known as "Inequality Sudoku" or "Futoshiki," is a logic-based puzzle that extends the traditional Sudoku with an added layer of complexity through inequality symbols (> and <). These symbols indicate a relationship between adjacent cells, adding a unique twist to the solving process.

Rules / How to Play

• Grid Size: The puzzle consists of  a square grid size of n x n, usually 4x4 or 9x9. Each box in the grid needs to have a number between 1 and n.
• Numbers: Each row and column must contain each number from 1 to the size of the grid exactly once.
• No Repetition: The number should not repeat within a row or column.
• Inequality Signs: Some pairs of side-by-side cells have symbols like ">" or "<" between them. The number in the bigger cell should be larger than the number in the smaller cell, based on the direction of the symbol.
• Starting Clues: Some cells may already contain numbers as starting clues to help you solve the puzzle.

Solving Tips and Techniques:

Here are some techniques to help you solve Greater Thank Sudoku puzzles.

• Analyze the Inequalities: Begin by focusing on cells with inequalities. For example, if a cell has 3 < ?, it can only hold numbers greater than 3. Narrow down possibilities based on these direct relationships.
• Chains of Inequalities: Follow chains of inequalities. For instance, if A > B > C > D, you can infer the relative values of A, B, C, and D must be in descending order.
• Extreme Values: Focus on the smallest and largest values in each row or column. For example, if a cell is at the end of a sequence with 1 < ?, it can only be the smallest unused number greater than 1.
• Intersections: Look for spots where a cell is limited by both the rules of the row/column and the inequalities. These spots can often help you make progress.