SudoCue Users Forum Index SudoCue Users
A forum for users of the SudoCue programs and the services of SudoCue.Net
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Almost Locked Sets

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    SudoCue Users Forum Index -> Solving Guide & Glossary
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
David Bryant
Gold Member
Gold Member


Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 86
Location: Denver, Colorado
PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:10 pm    Post subject: Almost Locked Sets Reply with quote
I'm still trying to understand the "XZ rule" thoroughly.
Solving Guide wrote:
An almost locked set consists of N cells with exactly N+1 candidates.

So I was working the "nightmare" puzzle for Monday, 2 October, 2006. Some fairly basic stuff got me to this point, where I applied a "Double Implication Chain".
Code:
*-----------------------------------------------------------*
| 46*   7     14B   | 9     25    3     | 145A  8     2456  |
| 469A  39    5     | 278   1     78    | 34    46A   27    |
| 8     2     13    | 4     57    6     | 9     15    1357  |
|-------------------+-------------------+-------------------|
| 57    14    2     | 36    36    1457  | 145A  9     8     |
| 3     14    6     | 15    8     9     | 7     2     145   |
| 57    8     9     | 1257  27    1457  | 6     3     145   |
|-------------------+-------------------+-------------------|
| 1     39    8     | 56    4     2     | 35    7     569   |
| 49    5     7     | 1368  36    18    | 2     146   1469  |
| 2     6     34    | 157   9     157   | 8     145   1345  |
*-----------------------------------------------------------*

A. r1c1 = 4 ==> r2c1 = 6 ==> r2c8 = 4 ==> r4c7 = 4 ==> r1c7 = 1
B. r1c1 = 4 ==> r1c3 = 1

So clearly r1c1 <> 4, and we must have r1c1 = 6.

Since I'm trying to gain a better understanding of the "ALS XZ rule", I went back and tried to cast this exclusion in those terms. This is what I found.
Code:
*-----------------------------------------------------------*
| 46*   7     14+   | 9     25    3     | 145+  8     2456  |
| 469-  39-   5     | 278   1     78    | 34    46    27    |
| 8     2     13+   | 4     57    6     | 9     15    1357  |
|-------------------+-------------------+-------------------|
| 57    14    2     | 36    36    1457  | 145   9     8     |
| 3     14    6     | 15    8     9     | 7     2     145   |
| 57    8     9     | 1257  27    1457  | 6     3     145   |
|-------------------+-------------------+-------------------|
| 1     39    8     | 56    4     2     | 35    7     569   |
| 49-   5     7     | 1368  36    18    | 2     146   1469  |
| 2     6     34    | 157   9     157   | 8     145   1345  |
*-----------------------------------------------------------*

So the only candidates for {r2c1, r2c2, r8c1} are v=3469, the only candidates for {r1c3, r1c7, r3c3} are v=1345, and "3" is restricted common. Since r1c1 can "see" all the instances of "4" in both sets, the rule says I can exclude "4" from r1c1. Everything seems dandy.

But then I got to thinking about the proof that lies behind the "ALS XZ rule". In this instance it doesn't really apply, because I can complete the two ALS's as follows.

If r1c1 = 4 I can set r8c1 = 9, r2c1 = 6, r2c2 = 9
Also, r1c3 = 1, r3c3 = 3, r1c7 = 5

and no contradiction is yet apparent, because the "locked common" value, "3", can "escape" into r7c2. I have to extend the argument farther, along the lines identified as a "DIC" above, before the contradiction is forced.

I'm thinking the reason the proof fails here is that the definition
Quote:
An almost locked set consists of N cells with exactly N+1 candidates

is not quite restrictive enough. I'm not quite sure how it should be phrased, but it seems that cases like this -- where the two instances of candidate "9" in the set marked with a minus sign can't "see" each other -- need to be excluded somehow. dcb
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Ruud
Site Owner
Site Owner


Joined: 30 Dec 2005
Posts: 601
PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
You are correct, David.

For cells to form an ALS, they need to see each other, just like a naked or hidden subset. For this reason, r2c1, r2c2, r8c1 cannot be an ALS.

Having said that, there are some developments towards extended sets which partially overlap. Myth might be able to tell you more about them, or you could have a look at the Pappocom forum. Search for "COALS".

Ruud
_________________
“If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn't.” - Emerson M Pugh
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    SudoCue Users Forum Index -> Solving Guide & Glossary All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group