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Latin and Euler squares are great puzzles, similar to the now popular Sudoko puzzles. In a Latin square, you place a given set of n objects into a n x n grid in such a way that no two similar objects fall in the same row or column. For example, to the left is a 3 x 3 grid with three different numbers arranged as a Latin square. | |||||||||
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An Euler square has the same number of objects in the same size grid, but this time the objects have an extra characteristic, for instance, color. So now the set contains the numbers 1, 2, and 3 but each number comes in three different colors (total of nine items to place). To the left is the same arrangement but now neither number NOR color is repeated in the same row or column. Additional grids that are 4x4 or larger can be used with the accompanying number of n2 items in one or two characteristics. |
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This activity can be played with younger children as a Latin square with numbers, letters, pictures, or geometric shapes. Or older children can solve the puzzle with two characteristics. I use a geo-shapes pegboard for my college students. These pegboards come with five shapes and five colors. |