American Scientist Online - Unwed Numbers:
The instructions that accompany Sudoku often reassure the number-shy solver that "No mathematics is required." What this really means is that no arithmetic is required. You don't have to add up columns of figures; you don't even have to count. As a matter of fact, the symbols in the grid need not be numbers at all; letters or colors or fruits would do as well. In this sense it's true that solving the puzzle is not a test of skill in arithmetic. On the other hand, if we look into Sudoku a little more deeply, we may well find some mathematical ideas lurking in the background.
Honestly, I haven't read this one. I merely link to it here as a way to share with schnookie-boogums without opening my email, which will undoubtedly contain things to deal with that I want to avoid for the moment.
Posted by Jason at December 17, 2005 09:33 AM