Krydsantal

Krydsantal is a Danish term used to refer to a class of puzzles that blends elements of crosswords with numbers. In its broad sense, a krydsantal puzzle presents a grid in which digits or multi-digit numbers must be placed so that intersecting lines satisfy numerical clues or constraints. The name derives from kryds, meaning cross, and antal, meaning number.

Variants of krydsantal vary in structure and rules. Some puzzles resemble cross sums or Kakuro-like formats, where clues specify the sums of contiguous digits in a row or column, and the digits placed in the grid must form valid numbers. Other formats function like traditional crosswords but use numbers or numeric strings instead of words. Rules regarding which digits may be used, whether zeros are allowed, or whether digits may repeat within a clue depend on the specific puzzle and its publisher or source.

Origins and usage: Krydsantal is used in Danish-language puzzle literature and online communities as a label for number-cross puzzles. It is generally considered a hobbyist or educational category rather than a formal mathematical concept, and precise definitions can vary between sources.

See also: Kakuro, Cross-number puzzle, Crossword puzzle, Number puzzle.