Can You KenKen?

KenKen is a logic puzzle that involves arithmetic. Similar to SuDoku, KenKen will exercise your mind as you fill in the blanks. KenKen is a game that helps students improve their calculation skills, logical thinking and persistence. The goal is to fill a grid with numbers so that no number appears more than once in any row or column. In addition, the numbers must combine to form a target number using a specific operation of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

KenKen logic puzzles were first invented in Japan by Tetsuya Miyamoto, promoted as “Kashikoku Naru Puzzle” or the "Makes You Smarter" puzzle. With the main goal to improve students’ cognitive abilities in mind, he developed a brain stimulating exercise that would be understandable, fun and challenging for students of all levels.

KenKen emphasizes logical thinking and problem solving in the context of basic operations. The math puzzle improves numeracy skills and logical thinking, and develops concentration, perseverance and stamina. The puzzle’s universality, with an array of difficulty levels and no language, gender or age requirements, allows all students the chance to participate.

The puzzle is used to teach Common Core mathematical processes and is prominently featured on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Illuminations website. (NCTM is the world's largest organization devoted to math education). KenKen puzzles can also be played for free at http://www.KenKen.com.

The KenKen Classroom Program (KKCR) is a weekly set of puzzles that range in size from 3x3 to 5x5 grids, with two 6x6 teamwork puzzles, sent as PDF to teachers once a week, usually on Sundays. The puzzle sets are carefully selected to ensure that they are fit for all class levels and skill levels, from gifted children as well as for students with learning disabilities!

Rules for KENKEN
1. Every square in the grid will contain one number. In a 4 x 4 puzzle, use the numbers 1–4. In a 5 x 5 puzzle, use the numbers 1–5.
2. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 3 (easy) or 1 through 5 (challenging). Do not repeat numbers in any row or column.
3. A cage is a heavily outlined set of squares. Every cage has a target number in the upper left corner. The numbers in the squares inside a cage must combine to produce the target number using the given operation in any order to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.
4. Freebies: Cages with just one square should be filled in with the number in the top-left corner. This is a good place to start solving the puzzle.



KENKEN and the Common Core CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-CED.A.1 Create equations and inequalities in one variable and use them to solve problems.
CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-CED.A.4 Rearrange formulas to highlight a quantity of interest, using the same reasoning as in solving equations.