# Problem
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem/149170
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 17, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem/149170 "2003-01-17T05:10:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem/149170/1 "2003-01-17T05:10:31Z")
Place a number into each box so that each row across, each column down, and each small 9-box square within the larger square (there are 9 of these) will contain each number 1 through 9. No number may appear more than once in any row, column, or 9-box square.
9 \_\_ \_\_ 3 5 \_\_ 6 \_\_ \_\_
6 \_\_ 5 \_\_ 9 \_\_ 2 \_\_ \_\_
\_\_ 3 \_\_ \_\_ \_\_ 1 \_\_ 7 9
\_\_ \_\_ 6 9 \_\_ 7 \_\_ 2 \_\_
\_\_ \_\_ 8 \_\_ 2 \_\_ 7 \_\_ 1
7 2 \_\_ \_\_ \_\_ 5 \_\_ 3 \_\_
8 1 \_\_ 5 \_\_ \_\_ \_\_ \_\_ 2
\_\_ 9 \_\_ 2 \_\_ \_\_ \_\_ 6 8
\_\_ \_\_ 3 \_\_ 4 8 9 \_\_ \_\_
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### Author:  [@vasyachkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vasyachkin)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem/149170/2 "2003-01-17T06:35:25Z")
the lowest 3 rows from top to bottom are:
8 1 7 5 6 9 3 4 2
5 9 4 2 7 3 1 6 8
2 6 3 1 4 8 9 5 7
then continue in same fashion. you look for example that one row has 3 spots, you know they can only be those 3 that are missing, then for each of the three you look at the column and a square and see if you can eliminate 2 choices, then you can put it down, etc … too much work 🙂 i might have guess in one instance … dont remember
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### Author:  [@vasyachkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vasyachkin)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem/149170/3 "2003-01-17T07:00:50Z")
PS: do not guess, under any circumstances 🙂 i should not have guessed shit
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### Author:  [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem/149170/4 "2003-01-17T07:11:54Z")
Thanks. 🙂
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### Author:  [@vasyachkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vasyachkin)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem/149170/5 "2003-01-17T07:12:51Z")
ok
9 7 1 3 5 2 6 8 4
6 8 5 7 9 4 2 1 3
4 3 2 6 8 1 5 7 9
1 4 6 9 3 7 8 2 5
3 5 8 4 2 6 7 9 1
7 2 9 8 1 5 4 3 6
8 1 7 5 6 9 3 4 2
5 9 4 2 7 3 1 6 8
2 6 3 1 4 8 9 5 7
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### Author:  [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem/149170/6 "2003-01-18T20:57:29Z")
Thank you so much. I couldn’t figure this one out. Thanks.