Numberlink

A simple example of a Numberlink puzzle

Solution to the Numberlink puzzle

Numberlink is a type of logic puzzle involving finding paths to connect numbers in a grid.

Rules

The player has to pair up all the matching numbers on the grid with single continuous lines (or paths). The lines cannot branch off or cross over each other, and the numbers have to fall at the end of each line (i.e., not in the middle).

It is considered that a problem is well-designed only if it has a unique solution^[1] and all the cells in the grid are filled, although some Numberlink designers do not stipulate this.

History

In 1897, a slightly different form of the puzzle was printed in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, in a column by Sam Lloyd^[2]. Another early, printed version of Number Link can be found in Henry Ernest Dudeney's book Puzzles and Curious Problems (1932) as Planning Tours (puzzle no. 270). This puzzle type was popularized in Japan by Nikoli as Arukone (アルコネ, Alphabet Connection) and Nanbarinku (ナンバーリンク, Number Link). The only difference between Arukone and Nanbarinku is that in Arukone the clues are letter pairs (as in Dudeney's puzzle), while in Nanbarinku the clues are number pairs.

As of 2006^[update], three books consisting entirely of Numberlink puzzles have been published by Nikoli.

See also

• List of Nikoli puzzle types

References

1. ^ Thomas Snyder. "Dr. Sudoku Prescribes: Numberlink Puzzles". http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/11/dr-sudoku-prescribes-numberlink-puzzles-2/. Retrieved November, 23, 2010. 
2. ^ Pegg, Jr., Ed (2007). "Beyond Sudoku". The Mathematica Journal 10 (3): 469--73. http://www.mathematica-journal.com/issue/v10i3/contents/NumberLink/NumberLink.pdf. Retrieved 11 September 2011. 

External links

• Nikoli's English page on Numberlink