SetSquare - Arithmetic Logic Grid Puzzle

SetSquare is a mentally stimulating, grid-based arithmetic logic puzzle that blends Sudoku-style digit placement with dynamic cross-calculation equations. Perfect for logic lovers and mental math fans alike, SetSquare challenges you to fill a grid so that every single horizontal row and vertical column satisfies a custom sequence of operators. It’s a premium exercise in deduction, factor analysis, and numerical balance!

The Objective

The objective of SetSquare is to fill the 3x3 grid with the digits 1 through 9. Every digit must be used exactly once in the grid, and all horizontal and vertical calculations must match their target totals.

The Tools You Have

You have a 3x3 grid of 9 cells. Interspersed between these cells are mathematical operators: addition (+), subtraction (minus), multiplication (times), and division (divided by). On the right end of each row and at the bottom of each column are the target totals. You also have locked starting numbers pre-filled as clues depending on the chosen difficulty (Easy, Mixed, Medium, or Hard), a multi-step Undo system, a Used-Number Picker to track placed digits, and an active pulsing amber selector.

The Rules to Follow

1. Unique Placements: Place digits 1 to 9 into the grid such that every number is used exactly once.
2. Target Totals: All equations must evaluate to their respective row (right-hand side) and column (bottom-side) totals.
3. No PEMDAS/BIDMAS (Left-to-Right & Top-to-Bottom Order): Calculations are performed strictly in order from left to right for rows and top to bottom for columns. Do not use standard mathematical order of operations! For example, 8 + 3 × 2 is calculated as (8 + 3) × 2 = 22, not 8 + (3 × 2) = 14.
4. Exact Division: Only exact integer divisions are mathematically valid at each calculation step. Fractional intermediate or final values are not allowed.

Simple Strategy

Start by looking for equations with high constraints, such as rows or columns that have very few possible factor sets. For instance, if a row equation is (A + B) × C = 63 and all numbers in the grid are unique digits from 1 to 9, you know that C must be a factor of 63 (such as 7 or 9). Since all cells must be unique, you can quickly cross-reference other columns to narrow down the possible digits for A, B, and C.

Example of Play

Let’s look at a simple row: [Cell A] × [Cell B] + [Cell C] = 13. If we try Cell A = 2 and Cell B = 5, we have 2 × 5 = 10. To reach the target total of 13, Cell C must be 3 because 10 + 3 = 13. This successfully places the digits 2, 5, and 3 in that row. If a future column check conflicts with these digits, you can easily select a cell and try another valid combination or hit the Undo button to backtrack.

Tips for Beginners

• Focus on starting locked clues: use them as anchor points to evaluate adjacent equations.
• Eliminate used numbers: track the Used Number Picker at the bottom of the board to see which numbers are still available.
• Watch out for conflict indicators: if two cells contain the same digit, they will light up red so you can correct the issue immediately.
• Use division equations to your advantage: because division must be exact, it highly restricts the possible digit placements.