Puzzle—Solving Smartphone Puzzle Apps by Mathematical Programming

SönkeHartmann ()
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SönkeHartmann: Hamburg School of Business Administration (HSBA), 20457, Hamburg, Germany

INFORMS Transactions on Education, 2018, vol. 18, issue 2, 127-141

Abstract: This paper considers six logic puzzles (i.e., single player games) that are available as smartphone apps. The six logic puzzles are: Thermometer Puzzles , Kakuro (Cross Sums) , Match 22: Color Puzzle Game , ∞ Infinity Loop , Slider , and Flow Free . We provide mathematical models that can be applied to obtain solutions for these puzzles. In OR/MS lectures, the apps and models can be used as examples or exercises when teaching mathematical programming and for discussion of familiar model types such as shortest path and network flow models. Given the popularity of logic puzzle apps on smartphones, such exercises might be motivating for students. The level of difficulty of the models presented here varies from easy to more difficult.

Keywords: puzzle; teaching modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:orited:v:18:y:2018:i:2:p:127-141

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