Task: 4-rings or 4-squares puzzle


C++: 
#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream> 
#include <numeric>  
#include <vector>   
#include <list>     

using std::begin, std::end, std::for_each;


std::list<std::vector<int>> combinations(int from, int to)
{
    if (from > to)
        return {};                          

    auto pool = std::vector<int>(to - from);
    std::iota(begin(pool), end(pool), from);

    auto solutions = std::list<std::vector<int>>{};   

    
    for (auto a : pool)
        for (auto b : pool)
            for (auto c : pool)
                for (auto d : pool)
                    for (auto e : pool)
                        for (auto f : pool)
                            for (auto g : pool)
                                if ( a      == c + d
                                  && b + c  == e + f
                                  && d + e  ==     g )
                                    solutions.push_back({a, b, c, d, e, f, g});
    return solutions;
}


std::list<std::vector<int>> filter_unique(int from, int to)
{
    
    
    auto has_non_unique_values = [](const auto & range, auto target)
    {
        return std::count( begin(range), end(range), target) > 1;
    };

    
    auto results = combinations(from, to);

    
    for (auto subrange = cbegin(results); subrange != cend(results); ++subrange)
    {
        bool repetition = false;

        
        for (auto x : *subrange)
            repetition |= has_non_unique_values(*subrange, x);

        if (repetition)    
        {
            results.erase(subrange);        
            --subrange;                     
        }
    }

    return results; 
}

template <class Container> 
inline void print_range(const Container & c)
{
    for (const auto & subrange : c)
    {
        std::cout << "[";
        for (auto elem : subrange)
            std::cout << elem << ' ';
        std::cout << "\b]\n";
    }
}


int main()
{
    std::cout << "Unique-numbers combinations in range 1-7:\n";
    auto solution1 = filter_unique(1, 8);
    print_range(solution1);
    std::cout << "\nUnique-numbers combinations in range 3-9:\n";
    auto solution2 = filter_unique(3,10);
    print_range(solution2);
    std::cout << "\nNumber of combinations in range 0-9: " 
              << combinations(0, 10).size() << "." << std::endl;

    return 0;
}







VB: Dim a As Integer, b As Integer, c As Integer, d As Integer
Dim e As Integer, f As Integer, g As Integer
Dim lo As Integer, hi As Integer, unique As Boolean, show As Boolean
Dim solutions As Integer
Private Sub bf()
    For f = lo To hi
        If ((Not unique) Or _
            ((f <> a And f <> c And f <> d And f <> g And f <> e))) Then
            b = e + f - c
            If ((b >= lo) And (b <= hi) And _
                ((Not unique) Or ((b <> a) And (b <> c) And _
                (b <> d) And (b <> g) And (b <> e) And (b <> f)))) Then
                solutions = solutions + 1
                If show Then Debug.Print a; b; c; d; e; f; g
            End If
        End If
    Next
End Sub
Private Sub ge()
    For e = lo To hi
        If ((Not unique) Or ((e <> a) And (e <> c) And (e <> d))) Then
            g = d + e
            If ((g >= lo) And (g <= hi) And _
                ((Not unique) Or ((g <> a) And (g <> c) And _
                (g <> d) And (g <> e)))) Then
                bf
            End If
        End If
    Next
End Sub
Private Sub acd()
    For c = lo To hi
        For d = lo To hi
            If ((Not unique) Or (c <> d)) Then
                a = c + d
                If ((a >= lo) And (a <= hi) And _
                    ((Not unique) Or ((c <> 0) And (d <> 0)))) Then
                    ge
                End If
            End If
        Next d
    Next c
End Sub
Private Sub foursquares(plo As Integer, phi As Integer, punique As Boolean, pshow As Boolean)
    lo = plo
    hi = phi
    unique = punique
    show = pshow
    solutions = 0
    acd
    Debug.Print
    If unique Then
        Debug.Print solutions; " unique solutions in"; lo; "to"; hi
    Else
        Debug.Print solutions; " non-unique solutions in"; lo; "to"; hi
    End If
End Sub
Public Sub program()
    Call foursquares(1, 7, True, True)
    Debug.Print
    Call foursquares(3, 9, True, True)
    Call foursquares(0, 9, False, False)
End Sub