Chapter 2

Greater Than Sudoku

T
he first variation is known as Greater Than
Sudoku. It uses the basic rules of Sudoku puzzles 6 2 5 4 3 1
(each number appears exactly once in each row,
4 3 1 2 5 6
each column, and each bordered region) but also
capitalizes on the ordering of the numbers that are used. 3 1 6 5 4 2
Within each bordered region, greater than (and less than) 5 4 2 6 1 3
signs are placed between any adjacent squares, indicating
2 5 3 1 6 4
which of the two numbers is greater than the other (see
the completed puzzle in Figure 5). The solver is originally 1 6 4 3 2 5
given the grid with only the greater than signs placed Figure 5. Example 6 × 6
throughout (see Figure 6) and is challenged to find the Greater Than Sudoku solution.
unique solution.

Solving the Example Puzzle

One of the easiest ways to start solving a Greater Than
Sudoku is to consider the extremes—the highest and
lowest values in the grid. In a 6 × 6 puzzle, the numbers
range from 1 to 6, so it’s helpful to consider which squares
within each bordered region could have a 1 or a 6. In this
example, we will look at the potential 6s in each bordered
region. Because 6 is the largest number in this grid, each Figure 6. Example 6 × 6
6 must always have the ordering symbols pointing away Greater Than Sudoku starting
from it. These squares (the potential 6s) have been marked grid.

DOI: 10.4324/9781003236368-2 Math and Logic Puzzles That Make Kids Think 5

Figure 7. Potential 6s.
6
6 6
6 6
6
6 6
6 6
Figure 8. Some 6s. Figure 9. All 6s.

with a circle (Figure 7). Because there has to be a 6 in each row and
column, there is only one choice for a 6 in the second row, the third row,
the second column, and the fifth column (Figure 8). The remaining 6s are
thus constrained by the need to have exactly one 6 in each row, column,
and bordered region (Figure 9).
A similar approach can be used for locating the 1s in this puzzle.
When all of the squares that have ordering symbols only pointing toward
them are marked as potential 1s with a smaller inset square (Figure
10), the only 1 that can be immediately determined is at the bottom
left, because it is the only square in which a 1 can be placed in the first
column (Figure 11). The rest of the 1s can be determined by methodically
eliminating each of the inset squares that would conflict with a 1 that
is already placed, resulting in a solution with all 6s and 1s correctly
determined (Figure 12).

6 6 6 1
6 6 1 6
6 6 1 6
6 6 6 1
6 6 1 6
6 1 6 1 6
Figure 10. Potential 1s. Figure 11. Some 1s. Figure 12. All 1s.

Next, we can turn our attention to the 5s. In the bordered region at
the bottom right of the puzzle, the 5 cannot appear to the right of the
6 because it would then have to have another number greater than it
appearing below it, so it must appear somewhere in the bottom row. We
know it’s not in the middle of the bottom row in this region, but it could
be in either of the other two squares. This means that in the region at

6 Math and Logic Puzzles That Make Kids Think

the bottom left of the puzzle, the 5 must appear in the top row. Looking
at the ordering symbols in this row, we know that it has to appear in the
middle. The only square in the left-center region of the puzzle that could
contain a 5 is at the bottom left, forcing the 5 into the third column in
the top-left region of the puzzle. The ordering symbols place it in the top
row of the third column (Figure 13). The 5s on the right side of the puzzle
can now be uniquely determined, using the given ordering symbols and
the standard Sudoku rules—keeping exactly one 5 in each row, column,
and region (Figure 14).

6 5 1 6 5 1
1 6 1 5 6
1 6 1 6 5
5 6 1 5 6 1
5 1 6 5 1 6
1 6 1 6 5
Figure 13. Three 5s. Figure 14. All 5s.

Similar logic can now be used for placing all of the 4s, starting with
the regions on the right side of the puzzle. In the top region, a 4 must
appear at the top left corner to satisfy all of the ordering symbols in
that region. Consequently, in the top left region, the 4 must appear
directly below the 6 (Figure 15). The rest of the 4s can now be uniquely
determined, starting with the middle left region while using both the
ordering symbols and the standard Sudoku rules (Figure 16).

6 5 4 1 6 5 4 1
4 1 5 6 4 1 5 6
1 6 5 1 6 5 4
5 6 1 5 4 6 1
5 1 6 5 1 6 4
1 6 5 1 6 4 5
Figure 15. Some 4s. Figure 16. All 4s.

There are now three regions in the puzzle in which there are two
connected squares left for the 2 and 3 in those regions (Figure 17). In
each one, the 3 must be placed so that the ordering symbols point toward

Math and Logic Puzzles That Make Kids Think 7

 the 2. The remaining 3s can be uniquely determined according to the
standard Sudoku rules (Figure 18).

6 5 4 1 6 5 4 3 1
4 1 5 6 4 3 1 5 6
1 6 5 4 3 1 6 5 4
5 4 6 1 5 4 6 1 3
5 1 6 4 5 3 1 6 4
1 6 4 5 1 6 4 3 5
Figure 17. Shading for 2s and Figure 18. All 3s.
3s.

The rest of the grid can now be filled in with 2s to obtain the unique
solution to the puzzle (see Figure 19).

6 2 5 4 3 1
4 3 1 2 5 6
3 1 6 5 4 2
5 4 2 6 1 3
2 5 3 1 6 4
1 6 4 3 2 5
Figure 19. Solution to Greater
Than Sudoku example puzzle.

These strategies—as well as others that are waiting to be

discovered—can be used to solve the Greater Than Sudoku puzzles in this
chapter. In each case, students are challenged to consider the ordering
of numbers, the maximum and minimum values that can be used (even
as those values shift while working on solutions to the puzzles), and the
geometric placements of the numbers in the regions.

Creating Greater Than Sudoku Puzzles

Students also can be challenged to create Greater Than Sudoku puzzles
for their classmates. One approach is to start by creating a Sudoku puzzle
solution, then adding the appropriate ordering symbols. It must be noted,
though, that this does not ensure a unique solution. The puzzle must be
tested by solving it, using logic to check for uniqueness. For example, the
puzzle below (Figure 20) may look like it has great potential as a Greater

8 Math and Logic Puzzles That Make Kids Think

 Than Sudoku puzzle—but the final placement of 2s and 3s reveals a
common problem that arises when creating these puzzles. In this case,
there are four squares left unfilled (Figure 21). The placement of the
ordering symbols creates the possibility of two different solutions (Figure
22). Either solution satisfies all of the conditions of the puzzle, but the
puzzle is not actually solvable because more than one solution exists.

4 6 3 1 2 5
5 2 1 6 3 4
6 1 4 2/3 5 3/2
2 3 5 4 1 6
3 4 2 5 6 1
1 5 6 3/2 4 2/3
Figure 20. Problematic 6 × 6 Figure 21. Trouble spots. Figure 22. Two possible
Greater Than Sudoku puzzle. solutions.

Another approach to creating Greater Than Sudoku puzzles is to

plan ahead for situations such as these and avoid them by deliberately
placing numbers so that one solution exists. This approach takes time
and is more difficult to master, but it forces the puzzle creator to think
like a puzzle solver throughout the entire creation process. The best way
to plan ahead for situations like this would be to have multiple instances
of consecutive numbers appear in adjacent squares in the grid. In the
previous example, had the shaded squares in Figure 21 appeared next to
each other in the regions, the 2s and 3s would be uniquely determined.

Math and Logic Puzzles That Make Kids Think 9