Star product Sudoku

The puzzle can be solved by finding the values of the unknown digits (all indicated by asterisks) in the squares of the $9\times9$ grid.

Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
Exploring and noticing Working systematically Conjecturing and generalising Visualising and representing Reasoning, convincing and proving
Being curious Being resourceful Being resilient Being collaborative

Problem



By Henry Kwok

 

Star Product Sudoku
Rules of Multiplication Equation Sudoku
Like the standard sudoku, this sudoku variant has two basic rules:
  1. Each column, each row and each box ($3\times3$ subgrid) must have the numbers $1$ through $9$.
  2. No column, row or box can have two squares with the same number.
The puzzle can be solved by finding the values of the unknown digits (all indicated by asterisks) in the squares of the $9\times9$ grid. At the bottom and right side of the $9\times9$ grid are numbers, each of which is the product of a column or row of unknown digits marked by asterisks. Altogether a set of 18 equations can be formed from the columns and rows of unknown digits and constants.



 

For example, in the first and second columns beginning from the left of the $9\times9$ grid, the following equations can be formed:
$ *\times* = 40$
and
$*\times*\times*\times* = 576$.



 

In the fourth and fifth rows beginning from the top of the $9\times9$ grid, the following equations can be formed:
$*\times*\times*\times* = 60$
and
$*\times* = 27$.



 

After solving all the equations, the puzzle is solved by the usual sudoku technique and strategy.