January's Math Mania is in Sudoku form

Ms. Math Mania has adapted the popular Sudoku puzzle form for the January Math Mania. Let's see how you do with her mixture of numbers and letters in this puzzle format from the Far East.

The creator of Math Mania is Ms. Amy Ruzicka, a math teacher at St. Gabriel's School in south St. Louis City. For this school year she's adapted a variety of new puzzle formats for your math enjoyment.

Included with this month's puzzle, Ms. Ruzicka gives you an explanation of Sudoku as well as a sample puzzle that has been worked out for you.

This month's puzzle looks like it's going to be more difficult that the December puzzle, which was based on the telephone keypad. Forty-nine kids submitted entries last month that had all seven answers correct. (To view the December answers, click here.)

Rules for Math Mania in 2007 will be the same. Each month, the contest calls for you to give answers to brainteasers based on numbers and math.

Then, you submit your answers, using the form which is attached to the questions. If you answer all the questions correctly, you'll have a chance to win a $10 Borders book certificate.

Follow contest instructions and fill out the entry form carefully. Also print legibly so, if you're a winner, we can send your prize to the right address.

How to enter:

1. Print out the following entry form.
2. Fill out your name, address and telephone number.
3. Answer all three of the January Math Mania questions.
4. Put your completed entry into a stamped, addressed envelope.
5. Mail your entry to:

Every row, every column, and every box needs to be filled with nine different numbers, and each number can only appear once in every row, column, and box, like this:

A finished puzzle looks like this:

Notice how the numbers 1-9 appear only once in each row, each column, and each box. Once you finish this month's challenges, don't forget to check your solutions to make sure that this holds true.

If you are new to Sudoku puzzles, it is best to practice some smaller and simpler puzzles to get a feel for how to do them. You can ask a friend, family member, or teacher for tips and tricks on solving them. There are also many books and websites available for you to practice these fun and addicting puzzles.

If you like Sudoku, look on the web or in your local bookstore for Kakuro and Spidoku puzzles. You'll quickly be hooked on these Sudoku variations!

January's Sudoku Challenges

Fill in the missing numbers so that the numbers 1-9 appear only once in each row, each column, and each box. Good luck!

1.

2.

3. Now try this word Sudoku puzzle. The letters in the word CHAMPIONS may only appear once in each row, each column, and each box.