Today, puzzle enthusiasts can engage with three challenging gerrymandering logic puzzles designed to test their skills in electoral mapping. The objective is to identify the unique electoral map where the minority colour wins the most regions. Each puzzle consists of a grid with regions defined as contiguous blocks of cells connected either horizontally or vertically.
The first puzzle is labelled as “Easy.” In this scenario, participants must divide a grid into five regions of five cells each. The challenge requires that the minority colour, purple, secures the majority of regions.
The second puzzle, termed “Medium,” presents a more complex task. This time, the grid is divided into five regions, each containing ten cells. The minority colour, again purple, must win the majority of regions, with no ties permitted in any region.
The final puzzle, classified as “Hard,” requires dividing the grid into seven regions of seven cells each. In this case, blue is the minority colour that must emerge as the winner in the majority of regions, with no ties allowed for first place in any region.
For those interested in solving these puzzles, a printable version is available online, alongside interactive versions linked beneath each puzzle. These puzzles were conceived by Brady Forrest, known by the pseudonym Deckard, who also provides a detailed explanation of the mathematical principles involved in the puzzles through a YouTube clip.
Solutions and Community Engagement
Solutions to all three puzzles are included at the end of the original post. The puzzles have become a regular feature, with new ones posted every other Monday since 2015. The community is encouraged to suggest new puzzles via email.
In related news, an intriguing fact from Brady Forrest’s new book, Football School Facts, highlights that Gerry Taggart, a former player for Bolton Wanderers, is one of only four Premier League players to have been sent off on their birthday. This quirky fact is one of many in the book, which is aimed at readers aged 7 to 107 and is available in hardback format from the Guardian Bookshop.
With the combination of challenging puzzles and engaging football trivia, this initiative continues to foster both intellectual and recreational enjoyment for a diverse audience.
