Futoshiki Puzzle Collection
Can you place the specified numbers these futoshiki puzzles so that numbers are not repeated in any row and column and all inequality statements are true?
What are Futoshiki Puzzles?
Futoshiki puzzles are a grid-based number puzzle that are a variant of a latin square puzzle. In a latin square puzzle, you must place numbers so that each number appears once in each and every row and column. Futoshiki puzzles build upon this structure by requiring all of the inequality symbols placed between the grid cells to be obeyed.
Using Futoshiki Puzzles in the Classroom
I was first introduced to futoshiki puzzles in 2015 when Christine Mishra left a comment on an old blog post asking if I was familiar with these logic puzzles which involve inequality symbols. I was intrigued, and I immediately printed out a set of these puzzles to use in my classroom as a “Figure it Out Friday” activity.
These puzzles would make a great extension task while studying inequality symbols. Or put one up as a class opener to see how familiar your students are with inequality symbols at the beginning of your unit on inequalities.
Different Sizes of Futoshiki Puzzles to Print
I am working on creating a selection of free printable futoshiki puzzles for teachers to use in their classrooms in a wide variety of sizes and difficulty levels. These are available as a free pdf download.
Wow! These are great — thanks for making me discover them. You should do a post on Magic Squares, too (the greater-than equal signs were akin to the arrows used for direction in an odd magic square). Check this out: https://mathworld.wolfram.com/MagicSquare.html