Thermo-Skyscraper Sudoku by Hans van Stippent
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: No Givens
Author/Opus: This is the 5th puzzle from guest contributor Hans van Stippent.
Note: we’ve been holding onto this puzzle for awhile; it was inspired by last year’s USPC Thermo-Skyscrapers puzzle and, by adding in the sudoku constraints, makes a nice challenge before this weekend’s US Sudoku Qualifying Test.
Rules: Standard Thermo-Sudoku rules. Also, any digits in the thermometer shapes outside of the grid are Skyscraper clues, representing the number of buildings seen inside the grid in that direction as in a regular Skyscrapers puzzle. (Note: digits in a thermometer must be strictly increasing even when outside the grid, so do not repeat any digits within a thermometer.)
Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right. Note: only enter the 9 digits inside the grid in these rows, not any of the outside skyscraper clues.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:30, Master = 9:30, Expert = 19:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for more Thermo-Sudoku puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Thermo-Sudoku to get started on. More Thermo-Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku 2.
Great sudoku..11:26
Enjoyed much. Thanks!
This puzzle is broken from the start. Top left skyscraper must be at least 3 digits long. The thermometer underneath prevents a 3 from being in that clue because the 5th digit on that thermometer must be bigger than 4th in the same column under that skyscraper clue. Unless I am misunderstanding the rules.
Hi Daniel — I’m not sure if I am understanding your problem but it does seem it may be related to the instructions. It may help to recognize that the sudoku constraint (1-9) only applies inside the grid boxes but does not apply to any clues added outside of the grid. If you are trying to fill in the circle of the upper-left thermometer with a digit like 3, that is a problem. If you are filling the two digits above the grid with a digit like 3 or 4 then that is fine, as long as a smaller digit than 3 can be put in the circle of the upper-left thermometer.