10
$\begingroup$

To find the universe's secret, first solve the Sudoku variant with #s 1-7 only.

No number may be repeated on any diagonal. No numbers go in the squares with red or green dots.

Then use the solution and the red/green squares to find the universe's secret.

The accepted answer will show detail and be well-articulated.

All Diagonal Sudoku Variant 1-7

I'm feeling generous. The accepted answer will receive 500 bonus rep points.

$\endgroup$
2
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Ahh, I see what's happening. But I won't be able to finish the puzzle, so I'll leave this to the other solvers out there. $\endgroup$
    – Stevo
    Oct 20, 2022 at 10:06
  • $\begingroup$ ^ By what's happening I mean that I think that I have solved the first bit... $\endgroup$
    – Stevo
    Oct 20, 2022 at 10:15

3 Answers 3

8
+200
$\begingroup$

Following from @justhalf and @Jafe’s answers,

We now have the 9x9 sudoku solved using the numbers 1-7, and can now look at the black, unfilled squares. Sum up the values of the digits orthogonally adjacent to each black box, and add/subtract the number of dots lit up, depending on whether they are colored green/red, respectively. Convert to letters (using A1Z26) and read them in reading order to get the answer: THE LAW OF ATTRACTION.

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ 200 pts coming your way $\endgroup$
    – JLee
    Oct 21, 2022 at 20:52
6
$\begingroup$

Partial answer. I have the answer to the sudoku but still stuck on the dot puzzle.

Sudoku solution

The 6 only has one possible place it can go in the top-left box. After that, there's only one spot for a 6 on the seventh row. Every 6 is placed pretty quickly based on that.

Partially solved sudoku grid. Sixes placed.

Putting a 5 in row 1 column 4 would make it impossible to put a 5 anywhere in the top-left box. So the 5 can't be there, leaving only one other place it can go. That forces the 5 in the top-left box.

Partially solved sudoku grid. Sixes and some fives placed.

The 5 in the bottom-right box must be in column 9, which means the 5 in the mid-right box must be in column 8. Only one place where it fits. From there it's simple to place the rest of the 5's.

Partially solved sudoku grid. Sixes and fives placed.

Only one place where a 2 goes in the bottom-right box now. That gives us the 2 in the central box, which in turn forces the 2 into place in column 2. After that there's only one option for the 2 in the top-left box, and it's straightforward to fill in the remaining 2's.

Partially solved sudoku grid. Sixes, fives and twos placed.

The 1 only has one possible place on row 2 now. That allows us to place the 1 in the bottom-middle box. The remaining 1's are easily placed.

Partially solved sudoku grid. Sixes, fives, twos and ones placed.

The 4 has only one option on row 3. That fixes the 4 in the bottom-right box, and lets us fill in the rest of the 4's.

Partially solved sudoku grid. Sixes, fives, twos, ones and fours placed.

Many ways to fill in the 3's from here, and put a 7 into all the remaining boxes. This is the finished sudoku grid.

Solved sudoku grid

Green/red dots (stuck on this, probably a dead end)

Each box represents a number between 1 and 16. Reds are negative and greens are positive. This could indicate movement through the alphabet to form a message. (You can always reach any letter with a movement of either +1...+16 or -1...-16, assuming it wraps around on both sides.) I'm not getting any meaningful message as a result, though, so this might be a dead end...

$\endgroup$
4
  • $\begingroup$ Looks fantastic so far $\endgroup$
    – JLee
    Oct 20, 2022 at 16:22
  • 5
    $\begingroup$ Extraction: rot13(Nqq hc gur qvtvgf begubtbanyyl nqwnprag gb rnpu oynpx obk, naq nqq/fhogenpg gur ahzore bs qbgf yvg hc, qrcraqvat ba vs gurl ner pbyberq terra/erq, erfcrpgviryl. Pbaireg gb yrggref naq ernq va ernqvat beqre gb trg gur nafjre: GUR YNJ BS NGGENPGVBA.) $\endgroup$
    – SeptaCube
    Oct 21, 2022 at 3:36
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @SeptaCube Ooh, that must be it. You should post that as an answer! $\endgroup$
    – Jafe
    Oct 21, 2022 at 4:51
  • $\begingroup$ 200 pts coming your way $\endgroup$
    – JLee
    Oct 21, 2022 at 20:52
5
$\begingroup$

(partial answer) First, the sudoku (the following is more like my solving process, so some steps may be out of order):

Each 3x3 box has 7 cells, so each box should have all numbers 1-7.

Step 1:

enter image description here
I filled the center with possible numbers
Then noticed that 6 can only go at the cells highlighted red in the respective box. This means R7C2 is the only place for 6 in that box.

Step 2:

enter image description here
Notice that R6C7 can't be 6 since the two possibilities of 6 in center box exclude this cell. So 6 can only go on the cells highlighted red on the right box. This means R1C7 is the only place for 6 in top right box.
Then we can fill the rest of the 6.
enter image description here

Step 3:

enter image description here
Top box can only have the red cells for 5. So R2C3 is the only place for 5 in that box. Which also gives us R1C6. And based on possibilities of 5 on bottom right box, we can also deduce R5C8 as 5. Then R8C4, R7C1, R4C2, and finally R9C9.
enter image description here

Step 4:

enter image description here
We can fill 2 in bottom right box now. Then R5C5. Then top left and top center boxes can only have 2 at R1 and R3. So top right box must have 2 at R2, which would be at R2C9. Then fill up the rest of the 2.

Step 5:

enter image description here
Left center box can only have R5 as 1. So R6C8 is 1, and we can fill up the rest of 1.

Step 6:

enter image description here Top left and top center can only have R1 and R3 as 3. So top right must be R2C7. Then fill up the rest of the 3.

Step 7:

Then we can fill up the rest of the 4 and 7 easily. To arrive at this final sudoku part:
enter image description here

Now moving on to the red/green part. Since it seems like the formation of the dots have no meaning individually, let's replace it with the count for visualization.

enter image description here

$\endgroup$
10
  • $\begingroup$ In Box 7, how did you immediately get the 6 resolved? $\endgroup$
    – Stevo
    Oct 20, 2022 at 11:10
  • $\begingroup$ Box 8 must have the 6 at R9, Box 1 must have the 6 at C1. Together with existing 6, Box 7 can only have the 6 at R7C2. I admit I didn't notice that Box 1 has only one possible place for 6 like you did. $\endgroup$
    – justhalf
    Oct 20, 2022 at 11:12
  • $\begingroup$ Ah, yes, I forgot the diagonals. My solvng process was a bit different, so that's why I was asking. $\endgroup$
    – Stevo
    Oct 20, 2022 at 11:27
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Stevo oh, I just realized you're not the other answerer, lol. I saw your comment in the question about getting the first part, and saw partial answer, I assumed it was you. $\endgroup$
    – justhalf
    Oct 21, 2022 at 5:37
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ For any one question it does, so I will award you a bounty for another question you answered. $\endgroup$
    – JLee
    Oct 22, 2022 at 1:33

Your Answer

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

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