Prime Time
A prime grid puzzle
Solve a puzzle on a grid using prime numbers.
Here is a prime puzzle. It is a grid of 3 rows and 3 columns, with a number to the right of each row and a number below each column. The rules:
- Fill the grid with prime numbers only.
- The three numbers in each row multiply to the number beside that row.
- The three numbers in each column multiply to the number below that column.
The book shows a solved puzzle.
- Top row: 5, 5, 3, and 5 × 5 × 3 = 75.
- Middle row: 2, 3, 7, and 2 × 3 × 7 = 42.
- Bottom row: 17, 2, 3, and 17 × 2 × 3 = 102.
Now the columns, from top to bottom:
- Left column: 5, 2, 17, and 5 × 2 × 17 = 170.
- Middle column: 5, 3, 2, and 5 × 3 × 2 = 30.
- Right column: 3, 7, 3, and 3 × 7 × 3 = 63.
How do you solve one? First find the prime factorisation of each row number and column number, since the cells must hold exactly those primes. For 102 = 2 × 3 × 17, the bottom row must hold 2, 3 and 17 in some order. For 170 = 2 × 5 × 17, the left column must hold 17 somewhere. The only cell in both is the bottom-left one, so 17 goes there.
Another useful check: a prime that does not divide a column's number can never go in that column. Place the primes that fit in only one cell first, and the rest fall into place.
Remember that 1 is not a prime, so it can never go in the grid.
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