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Fives and Sevens (5s & 7s)It turns out, mathematically, that there will NEVER be a 5 or a 7 immediately following a division operator (the / ) in a Hot Pepper Puzzle. Specifically a 5 (or 7) will never exist just to the right of a division operator, and a 5 or 7 will never be directly below a division operator. This constraint can help you when solving these puzzles. When I begin a puzzle, the first thing I often do is consider the fives and sevens (where appropriate -- this obviously does not apply to 4X4 puzzles). This trick sometimes helps in the middle of solving a puzzle, too. Keep it in mind. |
Fractions Are Your FriendsIn Hot Pepper Puzzles, fractions can give you clues to enable you to solve the puzzle. Often, a puzzle will present one or more equations that contain a single fration term. Terms are separated by + and - signs. The following example contains two such equations. 
The next example contains five such fractions, four of them in vertical equations, and one in the bottom horizontal equation. 
The bottom equation in the above example contains the fraction: 4 / N. Notice, it is the only fraction in that equation. Therefore, 4 / N must be a whole number. N must be 1 or 2 because 4 / 3 (four thirds) is not a whole number and 4 / 4 would violate the rules of Hot Pepper Puzzles. Notice that N cannot be 2 because of the 2 above it in the same column. Thus, N must be 1. Be on the lookout for 'whole number' fractions. Note that if there are two fraction terms in a given equation, and one of them is a fraction, the other must also be a fraction. Another helpful hint. Sometimes there are two fraction terms in a 6 X 6 (or larger) puzzle such that you have determined that one of them is not a whole number and is some number of of thirds or halves. Remember, in these cases, that the two fractions have to add up to a whole number. For example: 5 / 3 - 4 / 6 = 2 - 1 For example: 3 / 6 + 1 = 4- 5 / 2 Often, the fractions give you a clue when you need it. |