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3 Responses to 'What is the least number of numbers needed to be given in order to determine a sudoku puzzle?'

1. italiankittyprincess - October 6th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

   u need the numbers 1-9 in a row and a box…… so u need 81 numbers of 1-9 in the whole thing

2. Ron R - October 9th, 2008 at 11:12 am

   The least amount of given numbers to limit the correct answers to only one solution depends on the size of the puzzle.
   In a standard 3 x 3 arrangement (total of 9 puzzle blocks) you would need to have 6 given.

3. xwdguy - October 11th, 2008 at 4:53 am

   Going for “least needed”, 17 is the least that has the potential to define a unique 9×9 fill.

   Going for “most needed”, it should be possible to have a 2×2 that can flip either way, so that 77 squares could be filled and still have a duplicate solve, so 78 would be the magic number to force a unique solution.

   I’m not sure given your question which of these answers you are looking for.

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