Test Your Skills: Three Challenging Gerrymandering Puzzles

Earlier today, three intriguing gerrymandering logic puzzles were presented, inviting individuals to test their skills in a unique electoral map challenge. Participants are tasked with identifying the specific electoral configurations where the minority color secures the most regions. Each grid consists of contiguous cells that connect either horizontally or vertically, with no diagonal connections allowed.

Understanding the Puzzles

To begin, the puzzles, created by Brady Forrest, also known as Deckard, encourage problem solvers to think critically about electoral districting. The goal is to determine a configuration where the minority color emerges victorious in terms of region control. A region is defined as a connected block of cells, and to win a region, a color must dominate with the highest number of cells within that area.

The puzzles range in difficulty, offering a pathway for both casual and seasoned puzzlers. The first puzzle, designated as easy, requires participants to divide a grid into five regions of five cells each, ensuring the purple color—represented as the minority—wins the majority of these regions.

Moving to the medium difficulty level, the second puzzle expands the challenge to five regions of ten cells each. Again, the minority color, purple, must win without ties occurring in any region.

The hardest challenge involves dividing a grid into seven regions of seven cells each, where the blue color, also a minority, must secure the majority of regions with no ties allowed for first place in any region.

Solutions and Resources

For those eager to solve these puzzles, solutions are provided at the end of the article. Additionally, links to interactive versions are available, allowing participants to engage with the puzzles directly on their screens. For those who prefer traditional methods, a printable version can be accessed, along with bonus puzzles.

Brady Forrest discusses the mathematical principles behind these puzzles in a YouTube clip, offering insights into strategies for solving them. Thanks to Starwort for facilitating the interactive versions, enhancing the experience for participants.

In related news, the puzzle creator is also promoting his latest book, “Football School Facts,” which features a curious fact about Gerry Taggart, a former Premier League player. Taggart is one of only four players to have been sent off on their birthday, a peculiar fact highlighted in the book aimed at readers aged 7 to 107. The book is available at the Guardian Bookshop as a colorful hardback, making it an ideal gift for football enthusiasts.

As the puzzles demonstrate, gerrymandering can be both an engaging and complex topic, and individuals interested in exploring these challenges are encouraged to participate. For those wishing to suggest additional puzzles, an invitation is open to email the puzzle creator directly.