| KenKen is the hottest puzzle craze since Sudoku. It | | | | possibilities. |
| combines the logic of a Sudoku puzzle with arithmetic. | | | | It takes about two minutes to learn how to do |
| You have to add, subtract, multiply and divide to | | | | KenKen, but it can take years to master. There's |
| arrive at the numbers given in KenKen puzzle. | | | | something for all levels of solvers. |
| In KenKen, like Sudoku, there is a grid of 4x4, 6x6, | | | | Good math teachers will look into this puzzle and |
| 8x8, or 9x9 cells. That means the grid has 16, 36, 64 | | | | learn some strategy, then introduce the puzzles to |
| or 81 cells. The puzzle can actually be even larger, but | | | | their students. There are very inexpensive books of |
| those are for really advanced solvers. In both kinds | | | | KenKen, as well as online sites where you can |
| of puzzles, you must have all the digits in one row. In | | | | download free puzzles. One of them is |
| other words, if a row has 4 cells, like in a 16-grid | | | | Once you understand how KenKen really works, you |
| puzzle, you must use the numbers 1-4 in each row, | | | | will start learning all about factoring, exponents, and |
| and in each column. No digit may be left out of row | | | | mathematical logic. You won't need a workbook, and |
| or column, nor may there be duplicates in a row or a | | | | there are no grades (if the teacher is smart). The |
| column. | | | | only stress is the gentle strain on your brain, and |
| So far, that's totally easy to understand. If you look | | | | you'll be developing that brain with every KenKen |
| at a puzzle, you can see what I mean in a second. | | | | puzzle you solve. |
| The diabolical cleverness of KenKen, which sets it | | | | It's easy to get good at KenKen with some practice. |
| apart from Sudoku, is that:o some adjacent groups | | | | The nice thing about the practice is that you won't |
| of cells have a thick border around them. Those | | | | be able to stop. KenKen is the most addictive puzzle |
| groups are called "cages." Each cage has a number | | | | around! |
| printed in it, along with an operation sign.o The cells | | | | Imagine a student being able to hone his or her basic |
| within that cage must be filled with the digits that will | | | | math skills without worksheets, flash cards, charts, |
| amount to the number given. Let's say the cage has | | | | rote-memorization, or quizzes. Imagine that student |
| two cells surrounded by a thick border, the number in | | | | loving math like never before! |
| it is 6, and the operation sign is multiplication (x). That | | | | KenKen was invented by Tetsuya Miyamoto, a |
| tells you that you must find two numbers that | | | | Japanese math teacher who says, "I believe that if |
| multiply to 6. | | | | you give children good learning materials, they will |
| You may be tempted to say, "That's easy. The | | | | think and learn and grow on their own." If you teach |
| answer is 2 x 3!" But don't jump to conclusions! The | | | | yourself, your child or your students basic math with |
| answer could just as well be 6 x 1. Furthermore, you | | | | KenKen, they will develop a lifelong love of |
| don't immediately know which of the two cells the 2, | | | | mathematics, and you will have done them a |
| 3, 6 or 1 belong in. You have to find that out from | | | | wonderful favor. |
| looking at the other cages and narrowing down your | | | | |