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Miguel G. Palomo

Publications and source records attributed to Miguel G. Palomo.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Latin Polytopes

Latin squares are well studied combinatorial objects. In this paper we generalize the concept and propose new objects like Latin triangles, free Latin squares, Latin tetrahedra, free Latin cubes, etc. We start with a classic definition of Latin squares followed by one based on the concept of latinized board. A Latin square appears then as a combinatorial design whose points are geometric and whose lines (the rows and columns) are invariant under the symmetries of the square. The generalization that follows proceeds by 1. broadening this geometric symmetry 2. considering more general configurations of points and 3. admitting lines that intersect more freely. The resulting concept is the Latin board. Finally, we particularize Latin boards to define Latin polytopes, Latin polygons and Latin polyhedra.

math.CO↗

Latin Puzzles

Based on a previous generalization by the author of Latin squares to Latin boards, this paper generalizes partial Latin squares and related objects like partial Latin squares, completable partial Latin squares and Latin square puzzles. The latter challenge players to complete partial Latin squares, Sudoku being the most popular variant nowadays. The present generalization results in partial Latin boards, completable partial Latin boards and Latin puzzles. Provided examples of Latin puzzles illustrate how they differ from puzzles based on Latin squares. The examples include Sudoku Ripeto and Custom Sudoku, two new Sudoku variants. This is followed by a discussion of methods to find Latin boards and Latin puzzles amenable to being solved by human players, with an emphasis on those based on constraint programming. The paper also includes an analysis of objective and subjective ways to measure the difficulty of Latin puzzles.

math.HO↗