1
$\begingroup$

9 points are drawn on a piece of paper with the following rules:

  • Each point has integer coordinates $(x,y)$ that are between 1 and 10 inclusive.
  • For each point there is exactly one other point so that their x-coordinates or their y-coordinates match.
  • Two points cannot sit on top of each other.

The sum of the coordinates of each point (ie., x+y) is provided: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13. Can you reconstruct the location of each point? Bonus question: can you find multiple solutions? Good luck!

This puzzle was inspired by this one: The Grid World - Catastrophe

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
0

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
7
$\begingroup$

The second rule states: "For each point there is exactly one other point so that their x-coordinates or their y-coordinates match". So we should be able to pair each point. We have an odd number of points to place, so

It is impossible.

ps:sorry I can't comment yet.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ Would 1,2 / 1,3 / 2,3 not satisfy that second rule? $\endgroup$
    – Mohirl
    Commented Aug 11, 2020 at 11:11
  • $\begingroup$ @Mohirl The way I undestand the second rule, your second point would not satisfy it (same x as first point and same y as the third). Another puzzle on this theme with a modified 2nd rule has been made: puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/100996/… $\endgroup$
    – Sechiro
    Commented Aug 11, 2020 at 12:04
7
$\begingroup$

I hope I understood correctly.
Solution 1:

1, 1 (2)
1, 4 (5)
2, 4 (6)
2, 5 (7)
3, 5 (8)
3, 7 (10)
4, 7 (11)
4, 8 (12)
5, 8 (13)

Second solution

same as the first one but you reverse x and y coordinates for each point
1, 1 (2)
4, 1 (5)
4, 2 (6)
5, 2 (7)
5, 3 (8)
7, 3 (10)
7, 4 (11)
8, 4 (12)
8, 5 (13)

Explanation:

I started of with the first sum which is 2. This means the first point has the coordinates 1 and 1 since they have to be integers between 1 and 10.
the idea: Since each 2 points share either only x or only y, there are no 3 points on the same line.
So the safest way to continue would be to move to the right with the next point or up alternating from point to point like in the image below made with my awesome paint skills. Then I took all the sums in order and tried to reach the next one by changing X on the first move and Y on the second move.
For the second solution I changed Y on the first move and X on the second one.
So starting at (1, 1), changing X to match the next sum (5), I ended up with (1, 4). Then changed Y to reach the next sum (6) and ended up with (2, 4) and so on.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ This was the intended solution, but I stuffed up the description, because here each point has multiple matching partners. So the actual solution is the other answer. $\endgroup$
    – Dmitry Kamenetsky
    Commented Aug 10, 2020 at 22:28
  • $\begingroup$ @DmitryKamenetsky: Surely editing the question to clarify the description would be a valid option? To be honest, when I first read it, I read it the way you indented it to be, and not the way the accepted answer understood it. $\endgroup$
    – musefan
    Commented Aug 11, 2020 at 8:29
  • $\begingroup$ By the time I realised my mistake, there were already two answers. So i felt it wouldn’t be fair to edit the question at that stage. $\endgroup$
    – Dmitry Kamenetsky
    Commented Aug 11, 2020 at 9:35

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.