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Logic puzzle maker

Write your own names and categories; the maker writes clues that lead to exactly one answer, and draws the solving grid.

Categories used
Items per category

Who Owns Which Pet?

Name ____________

Each name has exactly one of each: pet, colour. Use the clues and mark the grid with ✗ and ✓.

  1. Ava’s colour is not Red.
  2. Chloe’s pet is not Rabbit.
  3. Chloe’s colour is not Yellow.
  4. The person whose pet is Dog has Blue as their colour.
  5. The person whose pet is Rabbit has Red as their colour.
  6. Chloe’s colour is not Blue.
  7. Ben’s pet is Parrot.
PetColour
CatDogRabbitParrotRedBlueGreenYellow
NameAva
Ben
Chloe
Dev
ColourRed
Blue
Green
Yellow
NamePetColour
Ava
Ben
Chloe
Dev

Answer

NamePetColour
AvaDogBlue
BenParrotYellow
ChloeCatGreen
DevRabbitRed

How the clues are chosen

With 3 categories of 4 items there are 24 × 24 = 576 possible ways to pair everything up. The maker picks a hidden answer, then keeps adding true clues, mostly “is not” clues, and after each one counts how many of the 576 arrangements still fit. It stops at exactly one, then deletes any clue whose removal still leaves one answer. What you get is a short, fair set where every clue matters.

Solving tips to teach

  • Mark positives first. A ✓ lets you cross out the whole rest of its row and column in that block.
  • Carry facts across blocks. If Ava has the cat and the cat owner likes red, Ava likes red.
  • Look for the last gap. A row with every cell but one crossed out must be the ✓.

Questions people ask

What is a logic grid puzzle?

A logic grid puzzle (sometimes called an Einstein or zebra puzzle) gives you a few people and several facts about them, such as pet and favourite colour, plus a list of clues. Using the grid to mark what is and isn’t possible, you deduce who has what.

Does every puzzle have exactly one answer?

Yes. The maker tests every possible arrangement against the clues and only stops adding clues when exactly one arrangement is left. It then removes any clue that isn’t needed.

How big can the puzzle be?

Up to 4 categories of 4 items, or 3 categories of 5 items. That keeps the answer checkable instantly in your browser and fits on one printed page.

How do you solve a logic grid?

Put an X in a cell when a clue rules a pairing out, and a ✓ when it confirms one. When you place a ✓, cross out the rest of that row and column within that block. When only one cell is left in a row, it must be the ✓.

What ages are logic puzzles good for?

A 3×3 puzzle works from about age 7 with help; 4×4 suits ages 9 and up; 3 categories of 5 is a good challenge for teens and adults.

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