Calcudoku puzzle forum
https://www.calcudoku.org/forum/

Method: Guessing
https://www.calcudoku.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5
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Author:  maartensmit  [ Sat May 21, 2011 5:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

pnm wrote:
maartensmit wrote:
Anyway, we're getting off-topic here. :p

So start a new topic!
:)

So make an off-topic sub-forum!
:)

Author:  pnm  [ Sat May 21, 2011 5:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

maartensmit wrote:
So make an off-topic sub-forum!
:)

I suppose that's possible. Wouldn't the "Calcudoku General" forum be ok for this though?

Author:  sneaklyfox  [ Sat May 21, 2011 5:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

I thought we were still talking about guessing so we're not exactly off topic. This is interesting.

Ok, how about I put it like this... back to Calcudoku... when I pencil-in possibilities (say I print the puzzle out), that's not called guessing, right? Do you agree with that, maartensmit?

Author:  maartensmit  [ Sat May 21, 2011 8:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

sneaklyfox wrote:
I thought we were still talking about guessing so we're not exactly off topic. This is interesting.

Ok, how about I put it like this... back to Calcudoku... when I pencil-in possibilities (say I print the puzzle out), that's not called guessing, right? Do you agree with that, maartensmit?

Yes, I agree. That is, if you mean that in a 4+ cage you write down 1 and 3 on the border of the 2 squares or something. :)

About the off-topic sub-forum idea; I think it is a good idea, pretty much all forums have an off-topic section, just for totally different subjects. This philosophical question about the definition of guessing is still somewhat related to the topic of calcudoku, but as soon as this forum becomes bigger, and gets more members, and becomes a bit of a community, an off-topic section would be cool to discuss non-calcudoku related things.

Author:  sneaklyfox  [ Sat May 21, 2011 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

Ok, well when I put a number in a box I am essentially writing it in pencil like you write a small number. It's only certain when I bold it with the = sign. So in a 4+ box if I write 1 and 3, it's treated as though I wrote a 1 and a 3 in small numbers in each of the two boxes so it's not a guess at all.

With the method I use, I rarely guess.

maartensmit, it shows that you have been doing puzzles for 45 days and have 880 points. (I assume that's you?) That's roughly 20 points a day which means you do all the puzzles from 4x4 easy to 6x6 medium or thereabouts. So have you done many harder puzzles? (I'm just assuming.) I don't use the = sign for any of the puzzles 6x6 and below either because they're much easier. Just try doing a 12x12 puzzle without using the = sign or printing it out on paper.

(This reply isn't so much about guessing anymore, but it is still related to solving strategies and tips.)

Author:  maartensmit  [ Sat May 21, 2011 9:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

I haven't been doing many of the online puzzles lately. When I just became a member of this site I was a lot more fanatic, reaching over 40 points per day. In the past 2 weeks I have probably only done 1 day's worth of puzzles ;). I do more calcudoku on paper nowadays (in the newspaper, in books, etc.)

Even more off-topic (probably even worth its own topic, I'll start one about it shortly), I've been doing the newspaper puzzles (they aren't that hard) blindfolded. Memorize the cages and then solve the puzzle in your head. To check if you solved it correctly, just write down the string of numbers after solving and fill them in in the puzzle. Seriously, try it sometime, it's fun :)

Author:  pnm  [ Sat May 21, 2011 10:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

maartensmit wrote:
I haven't been doing many of the online puzzles lately. When I just became a member of this site I was a lot more fanatic, reaching over 40 points per day. In the past 2 weeks I have probably only done 1 day's worth of puzzles ;). I do more calcudoku on paper nowadays (in the newspaper, in books, etc.)

Which newspaper and which books? (I'm curious about the Calcudoku activity in the Netherlands)

Author:  maartensmit  [ Sat May 21, 2011 10:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

pnm wrote:
maartensmit wrote:
I haven't been doing many of the online puzzles lately. When I just became a member of this site I was a lot more fanatic, reaching over 40 points per day. In the past 2 weeks I have probably only done 1 day's worth of puzzles ;). I do more calcudoku on paper nowadays (in the newspaper, in books, etc.)

Which newspaper and which books? (I'm curious about the Calcudoku activity in the Netherlands)

Volkskrant, your books :p

Author:  picklepep  [ Sun May 22, 2011 5:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

[quote="maartensmit"]And indeed, I do not believe guessing has anything to do with logic.

I think pnm definitely meant us to be able to 'guess' on the puzzle. That is why there is a bold feature. To lock in the correct answer

Author:  larryb33  [ Tue May 24, 2011 1:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Method: Guessing

maartensmit wrote:
When solving calcudokus on paper, I do sometimes write down the possibilities in a corner of the square, but only when the combination of numbers isn't obvious. In the 4+ example I simply wouldn't write that down. However, if I have somehow found that in a 10+ cage of 2 squares everything is impossible except for 3+7, I would.


How would you find a 10+ cage of 2 squares to be only 3+7? You would've mentally guessed 1+9, 2+8, 4+6 and found a contradiction for each.

There is a fine line between guessing and logic. Indirect proof or proof by contradiction is a well established method in math reasoning. Is that guessing?

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