KenKen Puzzle Number 10

This is Ken Ken Puzzle Number: 40091 
from the official Ken Ken Website.

Here is the solution: 

Detailed Solution of KenKen Puzzle 10

KenKen Puzzle Number 9

This is Ken Ken Puzzle Number:  96009 
from the Official Ken Ken Website

And here is the solution:  

Detailed Solution for KenKen Puzzle 9

KenKen Puzzle Number 8

This puzzle comes from the collection: 

Easy 6x6 Inkies by Krazydad, Volume 1, Book 1

Here is the solution:

Detailed Solution for KenKen Puzzle Number 8

KenKen Puzzle Number 7 - 6x6

We now move up to the 6x6 square puzzles which become more challenging, with the increased possibilities of six numbers to work with.  Our first puzzle in this category comes from the collection:   

Easy 6x6 Inkies by Krazydad, Volume 1, Book 1  

Here is the solution for this one:

Detailed Solution for KenKen Puzzle Number 7

KenKen Puzzle Number 6

This puzzle comes from a freely available collection at the Krazy Dad Puzzle Website:

Hard 5x5 Inkies, Volume 1, Book 2

Here is a link to the detailed solution:

Detailed Solution to KenKen Puzzle 6 

KenKen Puzzle Number 5

Here is a link to the solution: 

 Detailed Solution of KenKen Problem 5

KenKen Puzzle Number 4 - 5x5

We now move up to the more difficult 5x5 puzzles.  Some new strategies are required, but some of the cages with restricted solutions are still worth watching for.  Here are some examples:

And here is Puzzle Number 4:

Here is a link to the solution: 

 Detailed Solution for KenKen Problem 4

KenKen Puzzle Number 3

Here is the link to the solution: 

 Detailed Solution for KenKen Puzzle 3

KenKen Puzzle Number 2

Here is a link to a detailed solution for this puzzle:

 Solution for Puzzle 2

KenKen Puzzle Number 1 - 4x4

Here is the link to a detailed solution:  

Solution for Problem 1

The first few problems with be easy ones using the 4x4 square.  It is a good idea to bear in mind that some cages always have limited possibilities.  Here are some examples with the possibilities shown in green.  Note:  these are vertical cages but horizontal ones are exactly the same.  Multiplication Cages two squares in size that contain prime numbers (or numbers with no other factors than themselves and 1 always have just two possibilities like the 3x cage below.

KenKen Puzzles - An Introduction

Could Sherlock Holmes have used his famous powers of deduction to solve KenKen Puzzles?  The answer is a resounding YES!  This blog reveals how the powers of deductive reasoning can be harnessed to solve a variety of KenKen puzzles from all levels of difficulty. 

Those already familiar with KenKen puzzles can check out Strategies for Deduction which describes several strategies that can be used to solve KenKen puzzles using deductive reasoning.

What is a KenKen Puzzle?

KenKen puzzles are a fascinating variation on Sudoku and Kakuro type problems.  Although one might be tempted to solve these puzzles through trial and error, the most challenging way is through deductive logic alone.  In my experience KenKen puzzles do have logical solutions.  This blog will tackle puzzles of increasing difficulty and provide detailed solutions using deductive reasoning.  Hopefully it will encourage readers to test their own powers of logical deduction.

There is an excellent KenKen web site with many playing tips and tutorials, as well as puzzles at many difficulty levels that can be solved online:  KenKen Official Site

An interview with Tetsuya Miyamoto, math teacher and the creator of KenKen:

From the Official KenKen Site, a brief "How To" video:  

Another excellent introduction by Bill Lombard, this time specifically for the 4x4 KenKen Puzzle:

 Hooked now?  Another problem with a detailed solution:

A detailed step-by-step solving of the above problem:   

KenKen Problem Solution

For the tablet or phone, there is a great and free official KenKen App available:

 KenKen Classic II

Many web sites provide more KenKen type puzzles to solve.  One of the best is the site of that great online Puzzle Master:  Krazy Dad.  He calls his version of these problems "Inkies":

Free Inkies from Krazy Dad