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Cross Product Quickie (Posted on 2023-04-24) Difficulty: 1 of 5
+---+     +---+     +---+
|   |  X  |   |  X  |   | = 54
+---+     +---+     +---+
  X         X         X
+---+     +---+     +---+
|   |  X  |   |  X  |   | = 120
+---+     +---+     +---+  
  X         X         X
+---+     +---+     +---+
|   |  X  |   |  X  |   | = 56
+---+     +---+     +---+
  =         =         =
 96        180       21
Use each of the digits from 1 to 9 exactly once to satisfy this cross product puzzle.
How fast can you come up with the solution using only p&p (no calculator)?

Extra Challenge: Can you come up with the solution in your mind (without using p&p)?

See The Solution Submitted by K Sengupta    
Rating: 3.3333 (3 votes)

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Solution p&p | Comment 5 of 6 |
+---+     +---+     +---+
|   |  X  |   |  X  |   | = 54 = 2 * 3 * 3 * 3
+---+     +---+     +---+
  X         X         X
+---+     +---+     +---+
|   |  X  |   |  X  |   | = 120 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 5
+---+     +---+     +---+  
  X         X         X
+---+     +---+     +---+
|   |  X  |   |  X  |   | = 56 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 7
+---+     +---+     +---+
  =         =         =
 96        180       21
  =         =         =
  2         2         3
  *         *         *
  2         2         7
  *         *
  2         3
  *         *
  2         3
  *         *
  2         5
  *
  3
 
The only 7 has to be in the lower right corner.

The 9 can go only in the row with more than one 3 intersects just such a column: row 1, column 2.

The 5 must go in the middle row, middle column.

The middle column now needs 4 and it has only the bottom row to put it.

The bottom row now has a 2 to use up and only the first column free to take it.

The last column needs a 3. We can't put it in the top row as that would force a second 2 into column 1. So the last column's 3 must go in the second row, leaving a 1 in its top-row position.

That requires a 6 in the top left.

Then the 8 that remains fits perfectly at the left end of the middle row.
 
 
+---+     +---+     +---+ 
| 6 |  X  | 9 |  X  | 1 | = 54 = 2 * 3 * 3 * 3 
+---+     +---+     +---+ 
  X         X         X 
+---+     +---+     +---+ 
| 8 |  X  | 5 |  X  | 3 | = 120 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 5 
+---+     +---+     +---+   
  X         X         X 
+---+     +---+     +---+ 
| 2 |  X  | 4 |  X  | 7 | = 56 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 7 
+---+     +---+     +---+ 
  =         =         = 
 96        180       21 
  =         =         = 
  2         2         3 
  *         *         *
  2         2         7
  *         *
  2         3
  *         *
  2         3
  *         *
  2         5
  *
  3

  Posted by Charlie on 2023-04-24 09:59:13
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