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Documents authored by Hendrickson, Della

Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2026.12
A Bookworm Climbs up the Polynomial Hierarchy: Meta-Restoration Complexity in Arithmetic Puzzles

Authors: Brynmor Chapman, Lily Chung, Erik D. Demaine, Yota Irino, Della Hendrickson, Tonan Kamata, and Ryuhei Uehara

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 366, 13th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2026)

Abstract
In arithmetic puzzles, a partially specified arithmetic expression must be completed to make the computation valid. Arithmetical restoration puzzles require filling in missing digits, while cryptarithms involve assigning digits to letters. The Japanese term mushikui-zan ("bookwormed arithmetic") commonly refers to arithmetical restorations, where we imagine the missing digits have been eaten by a bookworm. Puzzle creator Yousuke Ikeda proposed a new type of puzzle in which a previously designed bookwormed arithmetic with multiplication - known to have a unique solution - has itself been "bookwormed", that is, partially erased. The goal is to restore the specified blanks so that the resulting bookwormed puzzle again has a unique solution. We further generalize this framework: for each k ≥ 2, we define level-k puzzles as those in which type-k blanks must be filled to make the resulting level-(k{-}1) puzzle uniquely solvable. We study the level-k versions of the Boolean satisfiability problem, and show that they form a hierarchy of Σ^P_k-complete decision problems, tightly matching the levels of the polynomial hierarchy. As applications, we show that the level-k arithmetical restoration problem with multiplication is Σ^P_k-complete, as is the level-k cryptarithm problem. On the positive side, we show that level-2 arithmetical restoration puzzles with addition are solvable in polynomial time.
Cite as

Brynmor Chapman, Lily Chung, Erik D. Demaine, Yota Irino, Della Hendrickson, Tonan Kamata, and Ryuhei Uehara. A Bookworm Climbs up the Polynomial Hierarchy: Meta-Restoration Complexity in Arithmetic Puzzles. In 13th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 366, pp. 12:1-12:15, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{chapman_et_al:LIPIcs.FUN.2026.12,
  author =	{Chapman, Brynmor and Chung, Lily and Demaine, Erik D. and Irino, Yota and Hendrickson, Della and Kamata, Tonan and Uehara, Ryuhei},
  title =	{{A Bookworm Climbs up the Polynomial Hierarchy: Meta-Restoration Complexity in Arithmetic Puzzles}},
  booktitle =	{13th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2026)},
  pages =	{12:1--12:15},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-417-8},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{366},
  editor =	{Iacono, John},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2026.12},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-257311},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2026.12},
  annote =	{Keywords: arithmetical restoration, cryptarithms, polynomial hierarchy, uniqueness quantifier, puzzle complexity}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2026.32
Tetris Is Hard with Just One Piece Type

Authors: MIT Hardness Group, Josh Brunner, Erik D. Demaine, Della Hendrickson, and Jeffery Li

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 366, 13th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2026)

Abstract
We analyze the computational complexity of Tetris clearing (determining whether the player can clear an initial board using a given sequence of pieces) and survival (determining whether the player can avoid losing before placing all the given pieces in an initial board) when restricted to a single polyomino piece type. We prove, for any tetromino piece type P except for O, the NP-hardness of Tetris clearing and survival under the standard Super Rotation System (SRS), even when the input sequence consists of only a specified number of P pieces. These surprising results disprove a 23-year-old conjecture on the computational complexity of Tetris with only I pieces (although our result is only for a specific rotation system). As a corollary, we prove the NP-hardness of Tetris clearing when the sequence of pieces has to be able to be generated from a 7k-bag randomizer for any positive integer k ≥ 1. On the positive side, we give polynomial-time algorithms for Tetris clearing and survival when the input sequence consists of only dominoes, assuming a particular rotation model, solving a version of a 9-year-old open problem. Along the way, we give polynomial-time algorithms for Tetris clearing and survival with 1 × k pieces (for any fixed k), provided the top k-1 rows are initially empty, showing that our I NP-hardness result needs to have filled cells in the top three rows.
Cite as

MIT Hardness Group, Josh Brunner, Erik D. Demaine, Della Hendrickson, and Jeffery Li. Tetris Is Hard with Just One Piece Type. In 13th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 366, pp. 32:1-32:22, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{mithardnessgroup_et_al:LIPIcs.FUN.2026.32,
  author =	{MIT Hardness Group and Brunner, Josh and Demaine, Erik D. and Hendrickson, Della and Li, Jeffery},
  title =	{{Tetris Is Hard with Just One Piece Type}},
  booktitle =	{13th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2026)},
  pages =	{32:1--32:22},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-417-8},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{366},
  editor =	{Iacono, John},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2026.32},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-257515},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2026.32},
  annote =	{Keywords: complexity, hardness, video games, counting}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2024.1
Baba Is Universal

Authors: Zachary Abel and Della Hendrickson

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 291, 12th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2024)

Abstract
We consider the computational complexity of constant-area levels of games which allow an unlimited number of objects in a fixed region. We discuss how to prove that such games are RE-hard (and in particular undecidable) and capable of universal computation, even on constant-area levels. We use the puzzle game Baba is You as a case study, showing that 8×17 levels are capable of universal computation by constructing a particular small universal counter machine within Baba is You.
Cite as

Zachary Abel and Della Hendrickson. Baba Is Universal. In 12th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2024). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 291, pp. 1:1-1:15, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2024)

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@InProceedings{abel_et_al:LIPIcs.FUN.2024.1,
  author =	{Abel, Zachary and Hendrickson, Della},
  title =	{{Baba Is Universal}},
  booktitle =	{12th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2024)},
  pages =	{1:1--1:15},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-314-0},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2024},
  volume =	{291},
  editor =	{Broder, Andrei Z. and Tamir, Tami},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2024.1},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-199093},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2024.1},
  annote =	{Keywords: Undecidability, Baba is You, RE-hardness, counter machines, universal computation}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2024.23
ASP-Completeness of Hamiltonicity in Grid Graphs, with Applications to Loop Puzzles

Authors: MIT Hardness Group, Josh Brunner, Lily Chung, Erik D. Demaine, Della Hendrickson, and Andy Tockman

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 291, 12th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2024)

Abstract
We prove that Hamiltonicity in maximum-degree-3 grid graphs (directed or undirected) is ASP-complete, i.e., it has a parsimonious reduction from every NP search problem (including a polynomial-time bijection between solutions). As a consequence, given k Hamiltonian cycles, it is NP-complete to find another; and counting Hamiltonian cycles is #P-complete. If we require the grid graph’s vertices to form a full m × n rectangle, then we show that Hamiltonicity remains ASP-complete if the edges are directed or if we allow removing some edges (whereas including all undirected edges is known to be easy). These results enable us to develop a stronger "T-metacell" framework for proving ASP-completeness of rectangular puzzles, which requires building just a single gadget representing a degree-3 grid-graph vertex. We apply this general theory to prove ASP-completeness of 37 pencil-and-paper puzzles where the goal is to draw a loop subject to given constraints: Slalom, Onsen-meguri, Mejilink, Detour, Tapa-Like Loop, Kouchoku, Icelom; Masyu, Yajilin, Nagareru, Castle Wall, Moon or Sun, Country Road, Geradeweg, Maxi Loop, Mid-loop, Balance Loop, Simple Loop, Haisu, Reflect Link, Linesweeper; Vertex/Touch Slitherlink, Dotchi-Loop, Ovotovata, Building Walk, Rail Pool, Disorderly Loop, Ant Mill, Koburin, Mukkonn Enn, Rassi Silai, (Crossing) Ichimaga, Tapa, Canal View, and Aqre. The last 13 of these puzzles were not even known to be NP-hard. Along the way, we prove ASP-completeness of some simple forms of Tree-Residue Vertex-Breaking (TRVB), including planar multigraphs with degree-6 breakable vertices, or with degree-4 breakable and degree-1 unbreakable vertices.
Cite as

MIT Hardness Group, Josh Brunner, Lily Chung, Erik D. Demaine, Della Hendrickson, and Andy Tockman. ASP-Completeness of Hamiltonicity in Grid Graphs, with Applications to Loop Puzzles. In 12th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2024). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 291, pp. 23:1-23:20, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2024)

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@InProceedings{mithardnessgroup_et_al:LIPIcs.FUN.2024.23,
  author =	{MIT Hardness Group and Brunner, Josh and Chung, Lily and Demaine, Erik D. and Hendrickson, Della and Tockman, Andy},
  title =	{{ASP-Completeness of Hamiltonicity in Grid Graphs, with Applications to Loop Puzzles}},
  booktitle =	{12th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2024)},
  pages =	{23:1--23:20},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-314-0},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2024},
  volume =	{291},
  editor =	{Broder, Andrei Z. and Tamir, Tami},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2024.23},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-199314},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2024.23},
  annote =	{Keywords: pencil-and-paper puzzles, computational complexity, parsimony}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2024.25
Complexity of Planar Graph Orientation Consistency, Promise-Inference, and Uniqueness, with Applications to Minesweeper Variants

Authors: MIT Hardness Group, Della Hendrickson, and Andy Tockman

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 291, 12th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2024)

Abstract
We study three problems related to the computational complexity of the popular game Minesweeper. The first is consistency: given a set of clues, is there any arrangement of mines that satisfies it? This problem has been known to be NP-complete since 2000 [Kaye, 2000], but our framework proves it as a side effect. The second is inference: given a set of clues, is there any cell that the player can prove is safe? The coNP-completeness of this problem has been in the literature since 2011 [Scott et al., 2011], but we discovered a flaw that we believe is present in all published results, and we provide a fixed proof. Finally, the third is solvability: given the full state of a Minesweeper game, can the player win the game by safely clicking all non-mine cells? This problem has not yet been studied, and we prove that it is coNP-complete.
Cite as

MIT Hardness Group, Della Hendrickson, and Andy Tockman. Complexity of Planar Graph Orientation Consistency, Promise-Inference, and Uniqueness, with Applications to Minesweeper Variants. In 12th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2024). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 291, pp. 25:1-25:20, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2024)

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@InProceedings{mithardnessgroup_et_al:LIPIcs.FUN.2024.25,
  author =	{MIT Hardness Group and Hendrickson, Della and Tockman, Andy},
  title =	{{Complexity of Planar Graph Orientation Consistency, Promise-Inference, and Uniqueness, with Applications to Minesweeper Variants}},
  booktitle =	{12th International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2024)},
  pages =	{25:1--25:20},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-314-0},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2024},
  volume =	{291},
  editor =	{Broder, Andrei Z. and Tamir, Tami},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2024.25},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-199335},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.FUN.2024.25},
  annote =	{Keywords: NP, coNP, hardness, minesweeper, solvability, gadgets, simulation}
}
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