Brain exercise and brain training type puzzle games are becoming more and more popular, not to mention more fun and quite inventive.
Scientific studies have shown that keeping the brain active by solving puzzles, whether on a computer, a video game, or newspapers and magazines, can improve memory, general problem-solving skills, and increase certain types of intelligence in both adults and children. .
Crossword games, hangman games, and other word puzzles can increase vocabulary and improve language skills and word recognition. But logic puzzles can improve your brain in many other ways, depending on the types of logic puzzles you do. The most popular are picture logic puzzles like nonograms and number logic puzzles like Sudoku and Mathdoku.
Mathdoku is similar to Sudoku. in the way that there are numbers on a grid, but there is also a level of arithmetic involved. Mathdoku is also known as KenKen, KEN-KEN, and KenDoku(TM), although all of these names are trademarks of Nextoy LLC. Most puzzle companies now use the name mathdoku as there is no trademark.
How are Mathdoku puzzles played?
The numbers in each outlined set of cells (called cages) must be matched (in any sequence) with the answer shown in the upper left corner of the cage using the indicated math operation. (eg: for a cage containing 3 cells with the response “12+”, the value of each cell in the cage when added in any order must equal 12, for a cage containing 2 cells with the response ” 3-“, the value of one cell subtracted from the other must equal 3.)
A number can be repeated within a cage, but they must not repeat a number in any row or column.
Who can play Mathdoku puzzles?
Mathdoku can be played by anyone, at any age, and with any ability.
There are different levels of grid size; from small grids, usually 3×3, to the larger 9×9 grids. Then there are different levels of difficulty; starting easy with simple arithmetic and logic, all the way to the hardest where you need better arithmetic skills and very good logical skills.
For adults; it will keep your brain active. For children; It’s a lot of fun, as well as educational.
Where can I find mathdoku puzzles?
Mathdoku websites are popping up on the internet and Mathdoku puzzles are being added to many of the existing ‘play online’ puzzle websites. They are available to play online or print. There are also a couple of Mathdoku puzzle games available for PC.
Daily KenKen puzzles are published by The New York Times and The Times (in the UK) under license from Nextoy LLC and now puzzle magazines and books are beginning to include mathdoku puzzles.
If you like the sound of mathdoku, you may also enjoy these other logic puzzles: Latin squares, Sudoku, Kakuro, Masyu, Hashi (Hashiwokakero), Bridges, Futoshiki, Link Letter, Shuffle 15, Suji Moji, cancan, minuplu, Isolate , Hitori and hundreds more.