Test Your Skills with Challenging Gerrymandering Logic Puzzles

Earlier today, a series of three logic puzzles focused on gerrymandering were released, inviting participants to engage with intricate electoral map challenges. The aim is to determine the unique electoral configuration in which the minority color wins the majority of designated regions. A region is defined as a contiguous block of cells connected either horizontally or vertically; diagonal connections do not count.

Brady Forrest, known as Deckard, conceived these puzzles, which vary in difficulty from easy to hard. Players can either print the puzzles for offline solving or engage with interactive versions available online.

Understanding the Challenges

The first puzzle, labeled “Easy,” requires solvers to divide a grid into five regions of five cells each. Here, the minority color, purple, must secure the majority of the regions. The second, “Medium,” increases the difficulty by asking participants to create five regions of ten cells each, with the same color winning requirement and no ties allowed in any region. The final puzzle, dubbed “Hard,” presents an even greater challenge, demanding a division into seven regions of seven cells each. In this case, blue is the minority color and must also win without any ties for first place in any region.

For those looking to dive deeper into the mathematics behind these puzzles, a YouTube clip featuring Brady Forrest offers insights and strategies for solving them.

Solutions and Additional Information

The solutions to these puzzles are provided at the end of the announcement. The puzzles have been well-received, with thanks extended to Starwort for providing interactive versions. Since 2015, a new puzzle has been released here every other Monday, reflecting a commitment to continually engaging puzzle enthusiasts. Suggestions for future puzzles are welcomed via email.

In related news, an interesting fact from Brady Forrest’s new book, Football School Facts, highlights that Gerry Taggart, a former player for Bolton, is among only four Premier League players to have been sent off on their birthdays—what some might call the wrong kind of card. The book is designed for readers aged seven to 107, featuring colorful illustrations and numerous intriguing facts. It is currently available at the Guardian Bookshop and makes for an excellent gift.

As interest in these puzzles continues to grow, they offer not only a fun challenge but also an engaging way to understand the complexities of electoral mapping and the art of gerrymandering.