/sci/ - Science & Math

How do make an algorithm to solve puzzles like this one that have a randomly generated grid size and a randomly generated distribution of cells?

I asked here the other morning but nobody provided a solution that proved useful.

First year CompSciFag here. I'm in a programming class and need an algorithm to solve these puzzles. Coding the program itself is a no-brainer. I just need an algorithm to write up.

Also, would permutations be useful for this? I'm not sure they'll even teach permutations at my uni but if they're the best way and that shit can be learnt over a weekend, I'd be happy to do it.