Product Description

KenKen is the brilliant successor to Su Doku that's taken Japan by storm selling over one million copies in less than a year. In collaboration with The Times, Collins - the no 1 puzzle publisher - are proud to be bringing it to the UK. KenKen is a new type of brain-training puzzle based on logic and simple arithmetic. Perfect for all ages and highly addictive, KenKen puzzles challenge and entertain in an entirely new way! The puzzle was invented by a charismatic Japanese maths teacher, Tetsuya Miyamoto in 2004. The name comes from 'Ken' which is the Japanese word for clever and KenKen translates as 'square wisdom'. It's a new type of puzzle based on simple arithmetic and each puzzle involves some or all of the following skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. As with Su Doku there are clearly defined levels for each type of puzzle from beginner and intermediate to advanced and the puzzles can be on any size grid, from 3 x 3 up to 9 x 9. The puzzles improve numeracy, logical thinking, concentration and perseverance. Can you KenKen?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52074 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

About the Author
Tetsuya Miyamoto established his own maths class in 1993 and is the founder and instructor of his own maths class in Yokohama, Japan. He pioneered the national success and popularity of the KenKen puzzle in Japan. He spent years inventing KenKen and other puzzles which he has used in his class to strengthen the 'thinking habits' of his students. He is the author of the Japanse books translated as 'The Art of Teaching Without Teaching Books 1 & 2' which introduce his unique educational methods and beliefs. He has regular columns in several Japanese monthly magazines such as 'Maths for Middle School' and 'Maths for High School'. He regularly lectures to educators and parents in Japan.

Customer Reviews

No multiplication or division
Although I enjoyed the first Ken Ken book, the puzzles in the second only involve addition and subtraction making them much less challenging. This is not made clear in the product description.

No puzzles with multiplication or division
The puzzles only have addition and subtraction, which is a bit of a let down. I would have preferred to have had at least some of the puzzles contain multiplication and division. Some of the fiendish puzzles are reasonably challenging though.

Getting better all the time.
Some people don`t like the lack of multiplication or division in the newer Ken Ken books but for me it`s a vast improvement. The problem with the problems was that the answers to the multiplication and division sections were always blindingly obvious and filled in 50% of the grid with no sweat. Now that the puzzle design has been perfected you can bend your head round a few decent puzzles and you still don`t have to be Stephen Hawking to finish them.