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Do puzzles in GP 2020 IB have multiple solutions?

published by meowmixx on Mon, 01/13/2020 - 04:25
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Hi, this is my first time looking at GP puzzles, and I am wondering if it is possible/acceptable for puzzles to have multiple solutions? Going through the 2020 IB puzzles, for instance:

On puzzle 11, bottom cell in rightmost column appears to be undefined (can be a, b, or c)—or am I missing something in the instructions?

On puzzle 12, Georgia fits in the last row as well as the second to last row. How does one determine it must be in the second to last row?

Many thanks and happy puzzling!

Submitted by Puzzle_Maestro on Mon, 01/13/2020 - 08:58.

Correct puzzles will always have a unique solution. In both cases, you have missed a small detail.

For puzzle 11, the number of cells containing each letter is the same for each letter (ie all letters appear the same number of times), thus resolving the ambiguity.

For puzzle 12, there is an A near the bottom right corner which prevents Georgia from being on the bottom row.

Have fun solving the puzzles!

Submitted by meowmixx on Mon, 01/13/2020 - 11:48.

Ah yes—thank you! I forgot to count the total number of each letter at the end. Heh heh. Whoops. Many thanks all!

Submitted by rob on Mon, 01/13/2020 - 08:59.

Hi meowmixx,

you're right, the puzzles are generally expected to have just one solution (though mistakes happen...). But if an example seems to have multiple solutions, chances are you've missed some subtle parts of the rules.

On puzzle 11: The rule fragment "so the number of cells containing each letter is equal for each letter" will determine the last letter.

On puzzle 12: I believe you're right, that's unfortunate. (And a bit surprising because I believe we've had this type on the contest before.)

As remarked in another thread, puzzle 16 also appears to have multiple solutions. I should remark in defense of the organizers that the quality is typically higher! There was probably some time pressure getting the first GP of the year together.

Submitted by meowmixx on Mon, 01/13/2020 - 11:52.

Thank you! I seem to have forgotten to check that last rule, despite having scribbled “6 a’s, b’s, and c’s” across the top of the page when I started the puzzle. Haha.