Easy Beginner Sudoku - Free Printable

Sudoku Puzzle Solution and Explanation

The provided image is an Easy Beginner Sudoku puzzle. Below is the step-by-step solution along with explanations for filling in the missing numbers.

#### Initial Grid:
```
5 _ _ | 4 6 7 | 3 _ 9
9 3 _ | 8 1 _ | _ 4 7
_ 7 4 | 2 _ 3 | _ _ _
------+-------+------
2 3 1 | 9 7 6 | 8 5 4
8 5 7 | 1 2 4 | _ _ 9
4 9 6 | 3 _ 8 | 1 7 2
------+-------+------
_ _ _ | _ 8 9 | 2 6 _
7 8 2 | 6 4 1 | _ _ 5
1 _ _ | _ _ _ | 7 8 _
```

---

Step-by-Step Solution

#### Step 1: Fill in obvious single possibilities
We start by looking for cells where only one number can fit based on the rules of Sudoku (each row, column, and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1–9 without repetition).

1. Row 1, Column 8 (R1C8):
- The only missing number in Row 1 is `5`.
- Place `5` in R1C8.

```
5 _ _ | 4 6 7 | 3 5 9
```

2. Row 2, Column 6 (R2C6):
- The only missing number in Row 2 is `5`.
- Place `5` in R2C6.

```
9 3 _ | 8 1 5 | _ 4 7
```

3. Row 3, Column 9 (R3C9):
- The only missing number in Row 3 is `8`.
- Place `8` in R3C9.

```
_ 7 4 | 2 _ 3 | _ _ 8
```

4. Row 5, Column 7 (R5C7):
- The only missing number in Row 5 is `6`.
- Place `6` in R5C7.

```
8 5 7 | 1 2 4 | 6 _ 9
```

5. Row 6, Column 5 (R6C5):
- The only missing number in Row 6 is `5`.
- Place `5` in R6C5.

```
4 9 6 | 3 5 8 | 1 7 2
```

6. Row 7, Column 1 (R7C1):
- The only missing number in Row 7 is `3`.
- Place `3` in R7C1.

```
3 _ _ | _ 8 9 | 2 6 _
```

7. Row 8, Column 7 (R8C7):
- The only missing number in Row 8 is `3`.
- Place `3` in R8C7.

```
7 8 2 | 6 4 1 | 3 _ 5
```

8. Row 9, Column 2 (R9C2):
- The only missing number in Row 9 is `9`.
- Place `9` in R9C2.

```
1 9 _ | _ _ _ | 7 8 _
```

---

#### Step 2: Use process of elimination
Now, we continue solving by eliminating possibilities in rows, columns, and boxes.

1. Row 1, Column 2 (R1C2):
- Possible numbers: `1, 2, 8`.
- Box 1 already has `1`, so eliminate it.
- Row 1 already has `8`, so eliminate it.
- Place `2` in R1C2.

```
5 2 _ | 4 6 7 | 3 5 9
```

2. Row 1, Column 3 (R1C3):
- Possible numbers: `1, 8`.
- Box 1 already has `1`, so eliminate it.
- Place `8` in R1C3.

```
5 2 8 | 4 6 7 | 3 5 9
```

3. Row 2, Column 3 (R2C3):
- Possible numbers: `6, 7`.
- Box 2 already has `7`, so eliminate it.
- Place `6` in R2C3.

```
9 3 6 | 8 1 5 | _ 4 7
```

4. Row 2, Column 7 (R2C7):
- Possible numbers: `1, 2`.
- Box 2 already has `2`, so eliminate it.
- Place `1` in R2C7.

```
9 3 6 | 8 1 5 | 1 4 7
```

5. Row 3, Column 1 (R3C1):
- Possible numbers: `6, 8`.
- Box 1 already has `8`, so eliminate it.
- Place `6` in R3C1.

```
6 7 4 | 2 _ 3 | _ _ 8
```

6. Row 3, Column 5 (R3C5):
- Possible numbers: `1, 5, 9`.
- Box 2 already has `1, 9`, so eliminate them.
- Place `5` in R3C5.

```
6 7 4 | 2 5 3 | _ _ 8
```

7. Row 3, Column 7 (R3C7):
- Possible numbers: `1, 9`.
- Box 3 already has `9`, so eliminate it.
- Place `1` in R3C7.

```
6 7 4 | 2 5 3 | 1 _ 8
```

8. Row 3, Column 8 (R3C8):
- Possible numbers: `9`.
- Place `9` in R3C8.

```
6 7 4 | 2 5 3 | 1 9 8
```

9. Row 4, Column 8 (R4C8):
- Possible numbers: `2`.
- Place `2` in R4C8.

```
2 3 1 | 9 7 6 | 8 5 4
```

10. Row 5, Column 8 (R5C8):
- Possible numbers: `3`.
- Place `3` in R5C8.

```
8 5 7 | 1 2 4 | 6 3 9
```

11. Row 6, Column 7 (R6C7):
- Possible numbers: `9`.
- Place `9` in R6C7.

```
4 9 6 | 3 5 8 | 1 7 2
```

12. Row 7, Column 3 (R7C3):
- Possible numbers: `7`.
- Place `7` in R7C3.

```
3 _ 7 | _ 8 9 | 2 6 _
```

13. Row 7, Column 4 (R7C4):
- Possible numbers: `1, 4`.
- Box 7 already has `4`, so eliminate it.
- Place `1` in R7C4.

```
3 _ 7 | 1 8 9 | 2 6 _
```

14. Row 7, Column 6 (R7C6):
- Possible numbers: `4`.
- Place `4` in R7C6.

```
3 _ 7 | 1 8 9 | 2 6 4
```

15. Row 7, Column 2 (R7C2):
- Possible numbers: `4`.
- Place `4` in R7C2.

```
3 4 7 | 1 8 9 | 2 6 4
```

16. Row 8, Column 8 (R8C8):
- Possible numbers: `9`.
- Place `9` in R8C8.

```
7 8 2 | 6 4 1 | 3 9 5
```

17. Row 9, Column 3 (R9C3):
- Possible numbers: `2`.
- Place `2` in R9C3.

```
1 9 2 | _ _ _ | 7 8 _
```

18. Row 9, Column 4 (R9C4):
- Possible numbers: `3, 5`.
- Box 7 already has `5`, so eliminate it.
- Place `3` in R9C4.

```
1 9 2 | 3 _ _ | 7 8 _
```

19. Row 9, Column 5 (R9C5):
- Possible numbers: `5`.
- Place `5` in R9C5.

```
1 9 2 | 3 5 _ | 7 8 _
```

20. Row 9, Column 6 (R9C6):
- Possible numbers: `4`.
- Place `4` in R9C6.

```
1 9 2 | 3 5 4 | 7 8 _
```

21. Row 9, Column 9 (R9C9):
- Possible numbers: `6`.
- Place `6` in R9C9.

```
1 9 2 | 3 5 4 | 7 8 6
```

22. Row 9, Column 8 (R9C8):
- Possible numbers: `1`.
- Place `1` in R9C8.

```
1 9 2 | 3 5 4 | 7 1 6
```

---

Final Solved Grid:

```
5 2 8 | 4 6 7 | 3 5 9
9 3 6 | 8 1 5 | 1 4 7
6 7 4 | 2 5 3 | 1 9 8
------+-------+------
2 3 1 | 9 7 6 | 8 5 4
8 5 7 | 1 2 4 | 6 3 9
4 9 6 | 3 5 8 | 1 7 2
------+-------+------
3 4 7 | 1 8 9 | 2 6 4
7 8 2 | 6 4 1 | 3 9 5
1 9 2 | 3 5 4 | 7 1 6
```

---

Final Answer:

\boxed{
\begin{array}{|3{c}|3{c}|3{c}|}
\hline
5 & 2 & 8 & 4 & 6 & 7 & 3 & 5 & 9 \\
9 & 3 & 6 & 8 & 1 & 5 & 1 & 4 & 7 \\
6 & 7 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 3 & 1 & 9 & 8 \\
\hline
2 & 3 & 1 & 9 & 7 & 6 & 8 & 5 & 4 \\
8 & 5 & 7 & 1 & 2 & 4 & 6 & 3 & 9 \\
4 & 9 & 6 & 3 & 5 & 8 & 1 & 7 & 2 \\
\hline
3 & 4 & 7 & 1 & 8 & 9 & 2 & 6 & 4 \\
7 & 8 & 2 & 6 & 4 & 1 & 3 & 9 & 5 \\
1 & 9 & 2 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 7 & 1 & 6 \\
\hline
\end{array}
}