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Lizely

Thermometers Puzzle

Set continuous bulb-first fluid levels across eight thermometers until every row and column fill clue is exact.

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How to use

  1. 1.Use the arrow keys to choose a bulb or tip, then press Space to set or lower that thermometer's fluid level.
  2. 2.Every filled path must be a continuous prefix from its bulb; press Enter only for optional empty notes.
  3. 3.Match row clues 3, 2, 3, 1 and column clues 2, 2, 2, 3; the six-action solution scores 940.

About Thermometers Puzzle

Thermometers Puzzle is a four by four fluid-level logic challenge. The grid is partitioned into eight two-cell thermometers. Each path has a bulb followed by a tip. A thermometer may be empty, partially filled, or full, but every filled portion must begin at the bulb and continue toward the tip without a gap. Row and column clues state the exact number of filled cells.

Puzzle Thermometers supplies the maintained playable rule reference, and Puzzle Genius independently cross-checks the same bulb-first, continuous-fill, and line-total behavior. The small path layout, clue values, disclosed fluid levels, controls, and score are Lizely product choices. Every grid cell belongs to exactly one thermometer, so there are no ambiguous overlaps.

Move the selection with the arrow keys. Press Space on a bulb or tip to set that thermometer's level through the selected segment. If the selected segment is already filled, Space lowers the level to the segment immediately before it. Press Enter to place or remove an optional empty mark on an unfilled cell. Mouse and touch users can click to set a level and use the context-menu gesture for an empty mark.

The row clues from top to bottom are 3, 2, 3, and 1. The column clues from left to right are 2, 2, 2, and 3. The eight solution levels are 2, 1, 0, 2, 1, 2, 1, and 0. Their sum is nine filled cells. Because every level is a prefix length, the solution can never contain a floating tip or a gap behind the fluid.

The disclosed keyboard completion selects cells 1, 3, 6, 9, 11, and 12. Those six Space actions set the six nonzero thermometer levels; the other two paths remain empty. When the ninth filled cell is placed, every row and column total becomes exact. A clean solve scores 940 from a starting score of 1,000.

Validation rebuilds the filled-cell Set from the declared paths and levels after every action. A level must be an integer from zero through the path length. An array with the wrong number of thermometers, a negative level, or a level past the tip is rejected. A row or column that exceeds its clue is reported as a contradiction. Underfilled lines remain playable because another legal level increase may complete them.

Automated tests prove that eight paths of two cells partition all sixteen grid cells, every bulb and tip are orthogonally adjacent, the disclosed level vector fills a continuous prefix on every path, all suffix cells remain empty, exact line clues yield completion, an impossible level is rejected, a deliberate row overfill is detected, and the full six-action keyboard simulation ends at 940 points.

The interface is a responsive semantic CSS grid instead of a canvas. Bulbs, tips, fluid, empty marks, clues, selection, warnings, and surfaces use the site's CSS variables. Every cell announces its position, bulb or tip role, fill state, and mark state. The game has no downloaded asset, timer, audio, random API, account requirement, hardware dependency, or pointer-only control.

Restart restores all eight empty levels, clears marks, resets the cursor and score, and removes contradictions. A completed best score may be saved only in this browser's localStorage. Double-press Escape to display the shared simulated spreadsheet boss cover, then repeat it to return without losing the board. For more concise deduction games, try Stitches, Battleships, Heyawake, or Tents.

Methodology & sources

Eight ordered two-cell paths partition the 4×4 grid. Each stored integer level fills path.slice(0, level), which enforces bulb-first continuity by construction. Analysis counts the union of filled cells by row and column, rejects invalid levels and clue overfills, and completes only on exact totals. Score is max(0, 1000 − 10×level actions).

Frequently asked questions

Can a thermometer have a gap in its fluid?
No. Filled cells always form one continuous prefix beginning at the bulb.
Can a thermometer be completely empty?
Yes. A path may be empty, partially filled, or full as long as all row and column clues match.
What do the clues count?
Each clue is the exact number of filled cells in its row or column, regardless of which thermometer they belong to.
Do empty marks change the answer?
No. Enter adds a private reasoning note to an unfilled cell; only fluid levels determine validation and score.

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