15 Puzzle

What Is the 15 Puzzle?

The 15 Puzzle is a sliding tile game consisting of a 4x4 grid with 15 numbered tiles (from 1 to 15) and one empty space. The objective is straightforward: arrange the tiles in numerical order, starting with 1 in the top-left corner and ending with the empty space in the bottom-right corner. Players move the tiles by sliding them into the empty space, shifting one tile at a time until the puzzle is solved.

How to Play the 15 Puzzle

Playing the 15 Puzzle is easy to learn but hard to master. Here’s a quick guide:

• Understand the Setup: The game starts with a 4x4 grid containing tiles numbered 1 through 15, plus one blank space. The tiles are typically jumbled at the beginning.
• Move the Tiles: Slide a tile into the empty space by moving it up, down, left, or right. Only tiles adjacent to the blank space can be moved.
• Solve the Puzzle: Rearrange the tiles until they’re in order: 1-4 in the first row, 5-8 in the second, 9-12 in the third, and 13-15 in the fourth, with the blank space in the bottom-right corner.
• Think Strategically: Focus on solving one row or column at a time, and avoid disrupting tiles you’ve already placed correctly.

Pro tip: Not all starting positions are solvable. Mathematicians have proven that only half of the possible configurations can be rearranged into the correct order due to a concept called "parity." If you’re stuck, it might not be your fault!