Sudoku SVG Math Games SVG Printable Classroom Activities SVG ... - Free Printable

Let's solve this Sudoku puzzle step by step. The goal is to fill the 9×9 grid so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3×3 subgrids contains all of the digits from 1 to 9 exactly once.

Here is the initial puzzle:

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

We'll denote empty cells as `.` for clarity.

Step-by-step solution:

We will use logical deduction (no guessing). Let’s begin.

---

#### Step 1: Fill in obvious singles

We’ll go through each empty cell and look for possibilities based on row, column, and box constraints.

Let’s label rows 1–9 from top to bottom, and columns A–I from left to right.

So:
- Cell (1,A) is top-left
- Cell (9,I) is bottom-right

We’ll proceed systematically.

---

Look at Row 1:
Row 1: [?, 9, 7, 3, ?, 5, 2, 6]

Missing numbers: 1, 4, 8

Now check columns and boxes.

- Column A: already has 6 (row 3), 8 (row 5), 2 (row 6), 9 (row 8) → missing: 1,3,4,5,7
- But row 1 needs 1,4,8 — so possible values for (1,A): intersection with col A → must be 1 or 4

But let’s look at box 1 (top-left 3x3):

Box 1 includes:
- (1,A), (1,B)=9, (1,C)=7
- (2,A)=?, (2,B)=5, (2,C)=2
- (3,A)=6, (3,B)=8, (3,C)=?

So current values: 9,7,5,2,6,8 → missing: 1,3,4

So (1,A) can only be 1,3,4 — but row 1 needs 1,4,8 → so (1,A) ∈ {1,4}

Similarly, (1,E) is in row 1, column E.

Column E: values:
- (1,E)=?
- (2,E)=8
- (3,E)=?
- (4,E)=3
- (5,E)=5
- (6,E)=1
- (7,E)=6
- (8,E)=4
- (9,E)=?

So column E has: 8,3,5,1,6,4 → missing: 2,7,9

But row 1 already has 9,7,3,5,2,6 → missing: 1,4,8

So (1,E) ∈ {1,4,8} ∩ {2,7,9} = ∅ → contradiction? Wait, no.

Wait: (1,E) is part of row 1 → must be one of 1,4,8

But column E has: 8,3,5,1,6,4 → so 1,4,8 are already present in column E!

So (1,E) cannot be 1,4, or 8? That’s a problem.

Wait! Let's list column E again:

- (1,E): ?
- (2,E): 8
- (3,E): ?
- (4,E): 3
- (5,E): 5
- (6,E): 1
- (7,E): 6
- (8,E): 4
- (9,E): ?

So used: 8,3,5,1,6,4 → missing: 2,7,9

So (1,E) must be from {2,7,9}

But row 1 has: 9,7,3,?,5,2,6 → so missing: 1,4,8

So (1,E) must be in both sets → intersection: {2,7,9} ∩ {1,4,8} = ∅ → NO COMMON VALUE!

That means (1,E) cannot be filled — contradiction?

Wait, we must have made an error.

Let me recheck.

Row 1: [?, 9, 7, 3, ?, 5, 2, 6]

So positions: A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I

B=9, C=7, D=3, F=5, G=2, H=6 → so missing: 1,4,8

So (1,A), (1,E), (1,I) must be 1,4,8 in some order.

Now column E: (1,E), (2,E)=8, (3,E), (4,E)=3, (5,E)=5, (6,E)=1, (7,E)=6, (8,E)=4, (9,E)

So used: 8,3,5,1,6,4 → missing: 2,7,9

So (1,E) must be from {2,7,9}, but row 1 requires (1,E) ∈ {1,4,8} → no overlap → impossible?

That suggests the puzzle is invalid?

Wait — maybe I misread.

Let me double-check the original image.

Looking back at your image:

Row 1: [ , 9, 7, 3, , 5, 2, 6 ] → so (1,A), (1,E), (1,I) are blank.

But (1,E) is column E, row 1.

Now, column E:

- Row 1: ?
- Row 2: 8
- Row 3: ?
- Row 4: 3
- Row 5: 5
- Row 6: 1
- Row 7: 6
- Row 8: 4
- Row 9: ?

So values present: 8,3,5,1,6,4 → missing: 2,7,9

So (1,E) ∈ {2,7,9}

But row 1 needs 1,4,8 → so (1,E) ∈ {1,4,8}

No overlap → contradiction

So unless there's a typo, this puzzle is unsolvable?

But let's check if I misread the grid.

Rechecking your image:

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

So row 1: A=?, B=9, C=7, D=3, E=?, F=5, G=2, H=6, I=?

So missing: 1,4,8

Column E: (1,E), (2,E)=8, (3,E)=?, (4,E)=3, (5,E)=5, (6,E)=1, (7,E)=6, (8,E)=4, (9,E)=?

So values: 8,3,5,1,6,4 → missing: 2,7,9

So (1,E) must be 2,7, or 9 — but row 1 needs 1,4,8 — no overlap.

This is impossible.

Unless... did I misread (1,E)?

Wait — (1,E) is the fifth cell in row 1.

Row 1: positions:
- A: ?
- B: 9
- C: 7
- D: 3
- E: ?
- F: 5
- G: 2
- H: 6
- I: ?

Yes.

But column E has:
- Row 1: ?
- Row 2: 8
- Row 3: ?
- Row 4: 3
- Row 5: 5
- Row 6: 1
- Row 7: 6
- Row 8: 4
- Row 9: ?

So yes, 8,3,5,1,6,4 → missing 2,7,9

But row 1 missing 1,4,8 — so (1,E) cannot be any of them because they're already in column E.

Therefore, (1,E) cannot be filled — contradiction.

So either the puzzle is invalid, or I misread.

Wait — could (1,E) be 8? But (2,E)=8 — same column → not allowed.

(1,E) cannot be 1 → (6,E)=1

Cannot be 4 → (8,E)=4

Cannot be 8 → (2,E)=8

So indeed, no valid number for (1,E).

Thus, this Sudoku has no solution due to inconsistency.

But let's double-check if I misread the puzzle.

Perhaps you meant to include more numbers?

Wait — let's look at row 1 again.

Is it possible that (1,E) is not empty?

In your image:

" | | 9 7 3 | 5 2 6 |"

So the first block: A,B,C → A=?, B=9, C=7

Then second block: D,E,F → D=3, E=?, F=5

Then third block: G,H,I → G=2, H=6, I=?

So yes, (1,E) is blank.

But column E has (2,E)=8, (4,E)=3, (5,E)=5, (6,E)=1, (7,E)=6, (8,E)=4 → so 8,3,5,1,6,4 are in column E.

So missing: 2,7,9

But row 1 needs 1,4,8 — none of which are available in column E.

Hence, (1,E) cannot be filled, so the puzzle is unsolvable.

But maybe there's a typo in the puzzle.

Alternatively, perhaps I misread (2,E).

Row 2: " | | 5 2 | 8 | |"

So: A=?, B=5, C=2, D=?, E=8, F=?, G=?, H=?, I=?

Yes, (2,E)=8 — correct.

(4,E)=3 — row 4: " | | 4 6 | 3 8 |" → so E=3

(5,E)=5 — row 5: "8 9 | 5 |" → so E=5

(6,E)=1 — row 6: "2 6 | | 1 | 8" → so E=1

(7,E)=6 — row 7: " | 7 1 | 6 |" → so E=6

(8,E)=4 — row 8: "9 5 1 | 6 4 2" → so E=6? Wait!

Wait — row 8: "9 5 1 | 6 4 2"

That means:
- A=9, B=5, C=1
- D=?, E=6, F=4, G=2

So (8,E)=6, not 4!

Ah! Here's the mistake!

I said (8,E)=4, but it's actually (8,F)=4, and (8,E)=6

Let me correct.

Column E:

- (1,E): ?
- (2,E): 8
- (3,E): ?
- (4,E): 3
- (5,E): 5
- (6,E): 1
- (7,E): 6
- (8,E): 6 → wait, two 6s?

(7,E)=6 and (8,E)=6 — same column → conflict!

But (7,E)=6 from row 7: " | 7 1 | 6 |" → so E=6

(8,E)=6 from row 8: "9 5 1 | 6 4 2" → so E=6

So (7,E)=6 and (8,E)=6 → same column, same number → invalid!

So the puzzle has two 6s in column E — impossible.

So the puzzle is invalid.

Wait — let's carefully reconstruct.

Row 7: " | 7 1 | 6 | |"

So:
- A=?, B=7, C=1
- D=?, E=6, F=?, G=?, H=?, I=?

Row 8: "9 5 1 | 6 4 2"

So:
- A=9, B=5, C=1
- D=?, E=6, F=4, G=2

So (7,E)=6, (8,E)=6 → same column, same number → duplicate → invalid.

Also, (7,C)=1 and (8,C)=1 → same column → duplicate in column C.

(7,C)=1, (8,C)=1 → column C has two 1s.

So multiple errors.

But wait — is that correct?

Row 7: " | 7 1 | 6 | |"

So:
- First block: A=?, B=7, C=1
- Second block: D=?, E=6, F=?
- Third block: G=?, H=?, I=?

Row 8: "9 5 1 | 6 4 2"

So:
- A=9, B=5, C=1
- D=?, E=6, F=4, G=2

So yes:
- (7,C)=1, (8,C)=1 → same column → invalid
- (7,E)=6, (8,E)=6 → same column → invalid

So the puzzle has duplicate entries — it's not a valid Sudoku.

Therefore, the puzzle as given is invalid and cannot be solved.

But perhaps there's a typo in your transcription.

Let me assume you meant something else.

Maybe the row 7 is: " | 7 1 | 6 | |" → but perhaps the "6" is in column F?

No — the formatting is:

" | 7 1 | 6 | |"

Which likely means:
- First 3x3: A,B,C → B=7, C=1
- Middle 3x3: D,E,F → E=6
- Last: G,H,I → nothing

So (7,E)=6

Row 8: "9 5 1 | 6 4 2" → A=9, B=5, C=1, D=?, E=6, F=4, G=2

So (8,E)=6

Same issue.

Unless the "6" in row 8 is in column F, and (8,E) is blank.

But it says: " | 6 4 2" → so E=6, F=4, G=2

Yes.

So unless the puzzle was copied incorrectly, it has duplicates.

Let me try to find a corrected version.

Perhaps the intended puzzle is different.

Another possibility: maybe row 8 is "9 5 1 | 6 4 2" meaning D=?, E=6, F=4, G=2 — but then (8,E)=6

And row 7: " | 7 1 | 6 | |" → (7,E)=6

So both (7,E) and (8,E) are 6 → invalid.

So unless the "6" in row 7 is in column F, but the formatting shows it in column E.

Given the standard way of writing Sudoku, the three blocks are:

- Columns 1-3: A,B,C
- Columns 4-6: D,E,F
- Columns 7-9: G,H,I

So:

Row 7: " | 7 1 | 6 | |" →
- Block 1: A=?, B=7, C=1
- Block 2: D=?, E=6, F=?
- Block 3: G=?, H=?, I=?

Row 8: "9 5 1 | 6 4 2" →
- Block 1: A=9, B=5, C=1
- Block 2: D=?, E=6, F=4
- Block 3: G=2, H=?, I=?

So (7,E)=6, (8,E)=6 → duplicate in column E.

(7,C)=1, (8,C)=1 → duplicate in column C.

So the puzzle has two 6s in column E and two 1s in column C — both invalid.

Therefore, the puzzle as presented is invalid and cannot be solved.

It might be a typo in the original.

For example, perhaps row 7 should be: " | 7 1 | 8 | |" instead of 6.

Or row 8 should have (8,E)= something else.

But as given, it's unsolvable.

Conclusion: The Sudoku puzzle contains duplicate numbers in column C (two 1s) and column E (two 6s), making it invalid.

Please double-check the original image or provide a corrected version.

If you can confirm the correct numbers, I can help solve it.