I have to admit, I’m addicted to KenKen Puzzles. 🙂 KenKen Puzzles are a style of arithmetic and logic puzzle invented in 2004 by Japanese math teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto, who intended the puzzles to be an instruction-free method of training the brain. This puzzle game helps students improve their calculation skills, logical thinking and persistence.
Rules for Playing KenKen
Like Sudoku, no digit can be repeated in a row or column. In addition, the numbers must combine to form a target number using a specific operation.
Fill in the numbers from 1 to the grid size. For example, this 4×4 KenKen puzzle uses digits 1, 2, 3 and 4.- No digit may be repeated in a row or column.
- The numbers within each heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner using the mathematical operation indicated.
- Cages with just one square should be filled in with the target number in the top corner.
- A number can be repeated within a cage so long as it is not in the same row or column.
KenKen Resources
Here are some resources if you would like to use KenKen Puzzles in your classroom.
Patty Papers 